Anti-claudin 18 antibodies and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

Antibodies that specifically bind to the human tight junction molecule CLDN18.2 and have functional properties that make them suitable for use in antibody-based immunotherapies of a disease associated with aberrant expression of CLDN18.2 are disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/427,909, filed on Aug. 2, 2021, which is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No.: PCT/US2020/016459, filed Feb. 3, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/800,359, filed on Feb. 1, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/891,925 filed on Aug. 26, 2019. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. International Application No. PCT/US2020/016459 was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.

STATEMENT REGARDING SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is provided in .xml format in lieu of a paper copy and is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification. The name of the .xml file containing the Sequence Listing is NVRB-001-102B-Sequence Listing.xml. The xml file is 272,524 bytes, was created on Jan. 16, 2023, and is being submitted electronically via Patent Center.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-specific antibodies and antibody fragments thereof. The antibodies are useful for immunotherapy of a disease associated with aberrant expression of CLDN18.2, including epithelial cell-derived primary and metastatic cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Two alternatively spliced human claudin 18 transcript variants, encoding distinct isoforms that exhibit lung-restricted (CLDN18.1) and stomach-restricted (CLDN18.2) expression (Niimi et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 21:7380-90, 2001), in a promoter-dependent manner, have previously been described. The primary protein sequences of the splice variants differ in the N-terminal portion that comprises the N-terminal intracellular region, first transmembrane region (TMD1), and extracellular loop one (ECL1). CLDN18.2 is one of a few members of the human claudin family with strict restriction to one cell lineage (Türeci et al.). More specifically, it provides a highly selective gastric lineage (e.g., gastrocyte-specific) marker with an expression pattern that is restricted to short-lived differentiated epithelial cells and absent from the stem cell zone of gastric glands (Sahin et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 14 (23) 7624-7634, 2008).

CLDN18.2 is retained in malignant transformation and is expressed in a significant portion of primary tumors and their metastasis. Sahin et al. also reported that CLDN18.2, but not CLDN18.1, is frequently overexpressed in several different types of cancers, including pancreatic, stomach, esophageal, lung, and ovarian cancers. Therefore, in the context of cancer, CLDN18.2 does not remain restricted to the gastric cell lineage (Sahin et al.). Considered together, the findings of published reports establish that CLDN18.2 provides both a diagnostic tool and a druggable target for the development of cancer immunotherapies of diseases associated with epithelial cell-derived tumors.

It has been reported that tight junction permeability is often higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues, leading to the speculation that claudin proteins on tumor cells may be more accessible than in normal tissues with intact tight junctions. This possibility makes claudin proteins attractive targets for therapeutic cancer interventions. In addition, published expression profiling results suggest that cancer therapies targeting CLDN18.2 will have favorable systemic toxicity profiles because normal turnover and homeostasis processes replenish gastrointestinal epithelial cells every two to seven days (Sahin et al.). Transient gastrointestinal toxicity of limited duration is a common and manageable adverse event for cancer immunotherapeutics.

Pancreatic and gastroesophageal cancers are among the malignancies with the highest unmet medical need (Sahin, et al.). Despite the fact that gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer contribute to significant cancer-related morbidity and mortality, the treatment options are limited. Thus, the need exists for anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies and binding agents for use in the immunotherapy of cancer associated with epithelial cell-derived primary and metastatic solid tumors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure addresses the above need by providing antibodies and antibody fragments that specifically bind to the human tight junction molecule CLDN18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) and have desirable functional properties. The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof, or bispecific molecules, or fusion proteins comprising the CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments may be used for antibody-based therapies of diseases associated with dysregulation of CLDN18.2 expression. For example, the antibodies may be used for treating solid tumor cancer diseases associated with cells expressing CLDN18.2, such as gastric, pancreatic and esophageal, lung, ovarian, colon, and hepatic cancers.

In some embodiments, the antibody of the invention may be a monoclonal, chimeric, humanized or human antibody, a component of a bispecific or multispecific antibody, or an antigen-binding portion of an antibody, which binds to the first extracellular domain/loop of CLDN18.2 and exhibits one or more of the following properties: (a) specificity for CLDN18.2 (e.g. binding to human CLDN18.2 but not to CLDN18.1); (b) ability to mediate ADCC killing of cells expressing CLDN18.2; and (c) efficiently internalized upon CLDN18.2 binding on CLDN18.2 expressing cells and therefore suitable for ADC development.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or antibody fragments thereof bind preferentially to CLDN18.2 (isoform 2) naturally expressed by human tumor cells and do not bind to CLDN18 isoform 1 (CLDN18.1). As a consequence of binding CLDN18.2 expressed on the surface of a target cell, the disclosed antibodies can mediate target cell killing by one or more mechanisms of action, such as induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, CDC lysis, ADCC lysis or delivery of a cytotoxic agent. In one embodiment, the target cells are primary or metastatic cancer cells.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a full-length antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is an antibody fragment. In further embodiments, the antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of: Fab, Fab′, F(ab)2, Fd, Fv, scFv, and scFv-Fc fragment, a single-chain antibody, a minibody, and a diabody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a monoclonal antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a murine antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a human antibody. In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a humanized antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a chimeric antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody is a bispecific antibody comprising either an unmodified (e.g., naturally occurring) Fc fragment or a modified Fc fragment designed to optimize, or in the alternative to eliminate, particular Fc-mediated functions.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 47 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 48 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 49 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 50 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 51 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 52 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 53 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 54 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 55 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 56 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 57 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 58 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 59 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 60 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 61 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 62 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 63 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 64 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 65 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 66 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 67 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:68 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 69 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO:70 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 71 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 72 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 73 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 74 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 75 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 76 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 77 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 78 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 79 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:80 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 81 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 82 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 83 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 84 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 85 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 86 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 87 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 88 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 89 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 90 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 91 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 92 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 93 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 94 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 95 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 96 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 97 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 98 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 99 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 100 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 101 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 102 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 103 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 104 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 105 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 106 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 107 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 108 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 109 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:110 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 111 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 112 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 113 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 114 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 115 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 116 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 117 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 118 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 119 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 120 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 121 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 122 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 123 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 124 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 125 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 126 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 127 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 128 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 129 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 130 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 131 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 132 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 133 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 134 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 135 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 136 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 137 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 138 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO:139 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:140 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO:141 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 142 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 143 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 144 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 145 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:146 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 147 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 148 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 149 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 150 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 151 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 152 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 153 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 154 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 155 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 156 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 157 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 158 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 159 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 160 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:161 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 162 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 163 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 164 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 165 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 166 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 167 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 168 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 169 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 170 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO:171 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 172 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO:173 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 174 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 175 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 176 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 177 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 178 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 179 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 180 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO:181 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 182 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 183 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 184 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 221 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 222 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 223 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 224 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 225 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 226 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 227 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 228 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO:229 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 230 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 231 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 232 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 233 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 234 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 235 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 236 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 237 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 238 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 239 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 240 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 241 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 242 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 243 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 244 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 245 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 246 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 247 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 248 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 249 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 250 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 251 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 252 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 253 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 254 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 255 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 256 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 257 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 258 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 259 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 260 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 261 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 262 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 263 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 264 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 265 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 266 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 267 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 268 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 269 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 270 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 271 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 272 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 273 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 274 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 275 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 276 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 277 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 278 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 279 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 280 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 281 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 282 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 283 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 284 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 285 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 286 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 287 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 288 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 289 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 290 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 291 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 292 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 293 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 294 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 295 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 296 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 297 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 298 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 299 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 300 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 301 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 302 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 303 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 304 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 311 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 312 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 313 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 314 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 315 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 316 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 317 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 318 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 319 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 320 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 321 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 322 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a heavy chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 323 (HCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 324 (HCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 325 (HCDR3); and/or a light chain variable region having SEQ ID NO: 326 (LCDR1), SEQ ID NO: 327 (LCDR2), and SEQ ID NO: 328 (LCDR3).

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 1.7, 19, 21, 2:3, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 217, and 219.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218, and 220.

The present invention further provides anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprising an antibody or CLDN18.2 binding fragment comprising a specific combination or pair of variable heavy and variable light chain sequences.

In an embodiment, an anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise an antibody or CLDN18.2 binding fragment thereof comprising a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45, respectively, paired with a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46, respectively.

In an embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise an antibody or CLDN18.2 binding fragment thereof comprising a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 217, and 219, respectively, paired with a and a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218, and 220, respectively.

In an embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise an antibody or CLDN18.2 binding fragment comprising a specific combination or pair of variable heavy and variable light chain sequences. In an alternative embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise an antibody or CLDN18.2 binding fragment or binding agent comprising defined sets or combinations of CDR sequences derived from the VH and/or VL domain regions of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies of the invention.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a specific pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations.

-   -   (a) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:1 and a         variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:2;     -   (b) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:3 and a         variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:4;     -   (c) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:5 and a         variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:6;     -   (d) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:7 and a         variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:8;     -   (e) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:9 and a         variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:10;     -   (f) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:11 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:12;     -   (g) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:13 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:14;     -   (h) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:15 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:16;     -   (i) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:17 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:18;     -   (j) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:19 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:20;     -   (k) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:21 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:22;     -   (l) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:23 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:24;     -   (m) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:25 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:26;     -   (n) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:27 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:28;     -   (o) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:29 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:30;     -   (p) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:31 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:32;     -   (q) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:33 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:34;     -   (r) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:35 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:36;     -   (s) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:37 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:38;     -   (t) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:39 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:40;     -   (u) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:41 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:42;     -   (v) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:43 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:44; and     -   (w) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:45 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:46.

In some embodiments, the provided antibodies are fully human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, comprising a specific pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations:

-   -   (aa) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 185         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 186;     -   (bb) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 187         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 188;     -   (cc) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 189         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 190;     -   (dd) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 191         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 192;     -   (ee) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 193         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 194;     -   (ff) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 195         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 196;     -   (gg) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 197         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 198;     -   (hh) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 199         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 200;     -   (ii) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 201         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 202;     -   (jj) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 203         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 204;     -   (kk) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 205         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 206;     -   (ll) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 207         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 208;     -   (mm) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 209         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 210;     -   (nn) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 211         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 212;     -   (oo) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 215         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 216;     -   (pp) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 217         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 218;         and     -   (qq) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 219         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 220.

The skilled person will further understand that the variable light and variable heavy chains may be independently selected, or mixed and matched, from the antibodies provided herein.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a combination of CDR sequences derived from a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43 and 45 and a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 46.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a combination of CDR sequences derived from a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ II) NOs: 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 217 and 219 and a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218 and 220.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies and antibody fragments thereof comprise one or more heavy chain variable region CDRs disclosed in Table 1 and/or one or more light chain variable region CDRs disclosed in Table 3.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies and antibody fragments thereof comprise one or more heavy chain variable region CDRs disclosed in Table 2 and/or one or more light chain variable region CDRs disclosed in Table 4.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment is a recombinant antibody (e.g., a chimeric antibody, humanized antibody, or a bispecific antibody) comprising six (6) CDRs, all derived from the VH or VL domain of a single anti-CLDN18.2 antibody disclosed herein. For example, a binding agent may comprise all six of the CDR regions for the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody designated as Hu-1. In this instance, the antibody or binding agent would comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 221-223 and SEQ ID NOS: 224-226, representing the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of the variable heavy and the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of the variable light domains, respectively, of the Hu-1 antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof bind to the first extracellular domain/loop of CLDN18.2 and exhibit one or more of the following properties binding preferentially to CLDN18 isoform 2 being naturally expressed by human tumor cells, not binding to CLDN18 isoform 1 (CLDN18.1), efficiently internalized from the surface of CLDN18.2 positive cells after binding, capable of directing the killing of CLDN18.2 positive cells by inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated lysis, complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), or antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADPC).

The present disclosure also provides methods for the treatment of epithelial cell-derived primary and metastatic cancer comprising administering a composition or formulation that comprises an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody, a bispecific antibody comprising an anti-CLDN18.2-specific binding agent, or an antibody fragment thereof, and optionally another immune-based therapy, to a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the cancer is selected from solid tumor, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cancer of the gastroesophageal junction, pancreatic cancer, cancer of the bile duct, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head and neck cancer, gallbladder cancer. In some instances the other immune-based therapy is a checkpoint inhibitor.

The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies of the disclosure can also be used for developing antibody-based immunotherapeutics that rely on CLDN18.2-specific binding to direct patient effector cells (e.g., T cells or NK cells) to tumors including bispecific T cell engaging antibodies, or bispecific molecules that redirect NK cells, or cell therapies, such as CAR-T therapy or for delivery to toxic payloads (e.g., a conjugated cytotoxic drug) to CLDN18.2 positive solid tumors.

The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies of the disclosure can also be used for diagnosis of gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cancer of the gastroesophageal junction, pancreatic cancer, cancer of the bile duct, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head and neck cancer, gallbladder cancer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended figures. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, shown in the figures are embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements, examples, and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 provides the amino acid sequences of the VH and VL domains of the murine anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies and their respective CDR sequences. Sequence identifiers are provided and the CDRs are underlined in the variable domain sequences.

FIG. 2 provides the amino acid sequences of the VH and VL domains of the human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies and their respective CDR sequences. Sequence identifiers are provided and the CDRs are underlined in the variable domain sequences.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C demonstrate the binding of mouse anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies to CHO-Claudin18.2 cells. FIG. 3A shows the binding intensity counts of murine anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies. FIG. 3B shows the binding curves of murine anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies Ms-1, Ms-2, and Ms-3 to CHO-Claudin18.2 cells. FIG. 3C shows the binding of Claudin18.2 antibodies Ms-4 and Hu-3 to CHO-Claudin18.2 cells, but not to CHO-Claudin18.1.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphs showing the binding of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies to CHO-Claudin18.2 and CHO-Claudin18.1 cells. FIG. 4A shows the binding of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies. FIG. 4B shows the binding curves of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies Hu-2, Hu-9, and Hu-10 to CHO-Claudin18.2 cells.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph showing the comparison of the surface Claudin18.2 expression level on CHO-Claudin18.2 and tumor cell lines PATU8988S and NUGC-4.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are bar graphs showing the binding of anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies to tumor cell line PATU8988S. FIG. 6A shows the binding intensity counts of murine anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies. FIG. 6B shows the binding of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies.

FIG. 7 is a bar graph showing the binding of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies to tumor cell line NUGC-4.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph showing the binding of human anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies to tumor cell line KatoIII.

FIG. 9 demonstrates Hu-2-, Hu-7-, and Hu-9-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

FIG. 10 demonstrates antibody-mediated endocytosis induced by anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies Hu-2, Hu-7, Hu-9, and Hu-11.

FIGS. 11A and 11B provide the amino acid sequences of four human immunoglobulin IgG1 CH domains (FIG. 11A) and a human immunoglobulin kappa light chain CL domain (FIG. 11B) suitable for use in combination with the disclosed anti-CLDN18.2 VH and VL domains and/or CDR sequences. Sequence identifiers are provided.

FIG. 12 provides the amino acid sequence of two representative full-length anti-CLDN18.2 antibody) recombinant heavy chains comprising the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 336 or SEQ ID NO: 338, either of which can be paired with a recombinant kappa light chain having the amino acid sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 337 to provide a full-length human IgG1 anti-CLDN18.2 antibody.

FIGS. 13A and 13B demonstrate Fc modified Claudin18.2 antibodies NBL-014P and NBL-014G induce enhanced ADCC against CHO cells overexpressing human claudin18.2. using Promega surrogate effector cells (FIG. 13A) or NK92MI cells overexpressing CD16A (FIG. 13B).

FIGS. 14A and 14B show the Fc modified anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies NBL-014P and NBL-014G induce enhanced ADCC against NUGC-4 cells (FIG. 14A) and PATU8988S cells (FIG. 14B).

FIG. 15 shows the Fc modified anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies NBL-014P and NBL-014G induce enhanced CDC, compared to the CDC activity of PC1, against CHO cells overexpressing human claudin18.2.

FIG. 16 shows the Fc modified anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies NBL-014P and NBL-014G induce enhanced CDC activity, compared to the CDC activity of PC1, against PATU8988S cells.

FIGS. 17A-17B show ADCP activity of anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies against CHO cells overexpressing human claudin18.2 (FIG. 17A) and NUGC-4 cells (FIG. 17B).

FIGS. 18A and 18B demonstrate the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies NBL-014 and PC1 in a subcutaneous PATU8988S overexpressing human Claudin 18.2 model based on determination of changes in tumor volume over time (FIG. 18A) and tumor weight on day 34 (FIG. 18B).

FIG. 19 is a graph showing the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies NBL-014 and PC1 in a subcutaneous NUGC-4 model based on changes in tumor volume over time.

FIGS. 20A and 20B demonstrate the anti-tumor efficacy of anti-Claudin 18.2 antibody NBL-014P in a subcutaneous NUGC-4 model implanted in human PBMC engrafted NOGdKO mice based on determination of changes in tumor volume over time (FIG. 20A) and tumor weight on day 28 (FIG. 20B).

FIG. 21 provides the amino sequence of Human claudin 18 isoform 2 (claudin 18.2) (SEQ ID NO: 329) and Human claudin 18 isoform 1 (claudin 18.1) (SEQ ID NO: 330).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-specific antibodies and antibody fragments thereof. The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof, or bispecific molecules, or fusion proteins comprising the CDRs or VH and VL sequences of the disclosed anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies may be used for antibody-based therapies of diseases associated with dysregulation of CLDN18.2 expression. More specifically, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies can be used for immunotherapy of epithelial cell-derived primary and metastatic cancer, including gastric, pancreatic and esophageal, lung, ovarian, colon, and hepatic cancers.

So that the invention may be more readily understood, certain technical and scientific terms are specifically defined below. Unless specifically defined elsewhere in this document, all other technical and scientific terms used herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Throughout this disclosure the following abbreviations will be used.

-   -   ADC—Antibody drug conjugate.     -   ADCC—Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.     -   CDC—Complement-dependent cytotoxicity.     -   CDR—Complementarity determining region in the immunoglobulin         variable regions.     -   ECD—Extracellular domain.     -   FR—Antibody framework region, the immunoglobulin variable         regions excluding the CDR regions.     -   EC50—the concentration of antibody that gives half-maximal         binding or the efficient concentration of an antibody which         produces 50% of its maximum response.     -   IC50—the concentration resulting in 50% inhibition.     -   mAb or Mab or MAb—Monoclonal antibody.     -   VH or V_(H)—Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region.     -   VL or V_(L)—Immunoglobulin light chain variable region.     -   eADCC—Enhanced Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.     -   ADCP—Antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis.     -   Fc—Fragment crystallizable region.     -   FcRn—the neonatal Fc receptor.

As used herein the term “CLDN” means claudin and includes CLDN18.2 and CLDN 18.1. Preferably, a claudin is a human claudin.

As used herein, the term “claudin 18 isoform 2” (used interchangeably with CLDN18.2) refers to a peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence provided in Uni-Prot entry P56856 (CLD18_human) identified as P56856-2, isoform (splice variant 2) including post-translationally modified variants and species homologs present on the surface of normal or transformed cancer cells or are expressed on cells transfected with a CLDN18.2 gene. Claudin 18.2 preferably has the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 329.

As used herein, the term “claudin 18 isoform 1” (used interchangeably with CLDN18.1) refers to a peptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence provided in Uni-Prot entry P56856 (CLD18_human) identified as P56856-1 isoform (splice variant 1), including post-translationally modified variants and species homologs of present on the surface of normal or transformed cancer cells or are expressed on cells transfected with a CLDN18.1 gene. Claudin 18.1 preferably has the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 330.

The term “extracellular domain” or “extracellular portion” as used herein refers to a part of a molecule such as a protein that is facing the extracellular space of a cell and preferably is accessible from the outside of said cell, e.g., by antigen-binding molecules such as antibodies located outside the cell. Preferably, the term refers to one or more extracellular loops or domains or a fragment thereof.

As used herein, the term “CLDN18-associated disease or disorder” includes disease states and/or symptoms associated with a disease state, where altered levels or activity, or accessibility of CLDN18.2 are found. Exemplary CLDN18.2-associated diseases or disorders include, but are not limited to, cancer diseases associated with epithelial tumors expressing CLDN18.2, such as pancreatic and gastroesophageal cancers.

The term “antibody” herein is used in the broadest sense and encompasses various antibody structures, including but not limited to monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, and multispecific antibodies e.g., bispecific antibodies).

An exemplary antibody such as an IgG comprises two heavy chains and two light chains. Each heavy chain is comprised of a heavy chain variable region (abbreviated herein as VH) and a heavy chain constant region. Each light chain is comprised of a light chain variable region (abbreviated herein as VL) and a light chain constant region. The VH and VL regions can be further subdivided into regions of hypervariability, termed complementarity determining regions (CDR), interspersed with regions that are more conserved, termed framework regions (FR). Each VH and VL is composed of three CDRs and four FRs, arranged from amino terminus to carboxy-terminus in the following order: FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3, FR4.

The “class” or “isotype” of an antibody refers to the type of constant domain or constant region possessed by its heavy chain. There are five major classes of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, and several of these may be further divided into subclasses (isotypes), e.g., IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1, and IgA2. The heavy chain constant domains that correspond to the different classes of immunoglobulins are called α, δ, ε, γ, and μ, respectively.

As used herein the term “IgG” refers to the isotype of human immunoglobulin comprising antibodies belonging to the four subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4.

The hypervariable region generally encompasses amino acid residues from about amino acid residues 24-34 (LCDR1; “L” denotes light chain), 50-56 (LCDR2) and 89-97 (LCDR3) in the light chain variable region and around about 31-35 (HCDR1; “H” denotes heavy chain), 50-65 (HCDR2), and 95-102 (HCDR3) in the heavy chain variable region; Kabat et al., SEQUENCES OF PROTEINS OF IMMUNOLOGICAL INTEREST, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991) and/or those residues forming a hypervariable loop (e.g. residues 26-32 (LCDR1), 50-52 (LCDR2) and 91-96 (LCDR3) in the light chain variable region and 26-32 (HCDR1), 53-55 (HCDR2) and 96-101 (HCDR3) in the heavy chain variable region; Chothia and Lesk (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 196:901-917.

The term “monoclonal antibody” as used herein refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical and/or bind the same epitope, except for possible variant antibodies, e.g., containing naturally occurring mutations or arising during production of a monoclonal antibody preparation, such variants generally being present in minor amounts. In contrast to polyclonal antibody preparations, which typically include different antibodies directed against different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody of a monoclonal antibody preparation is directed against a single determinant on an antigen. Thus, the modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any method. For example, the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may be made by a variety of techniques, including but not limited to the hybridoma method, recombinant DNA methods, phage-display methods, and methods utilizing transgenic animals containing all or part of the human immunoglobulin loci, such methods and other exemplary methods for making monoclonal antibodies being described herein.

The term “chimeric” antibody refers to a recombinant antibody in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is derived from a particular source or species, while the remainder of the heavy and/or light chain is derived from a different source or species.

A “human antibody” is an antibody that possesses an amino acid sequence corresponding to that of an antibody produced by a human and/or has been made using any of the techniques for making human antibodies known to one of skill in the art. This definition of a human antibody specifically excludes a humanized antibody comprising non-human antigen-binding residues. Human antibodies can be produced using various techniques known in the art, including methods described in Cole et al, Monoclonal Antibodies and Cancer Therapy, Alan R. Liss, p. 77 (1985); Boerner et al, J. Immunol, 147(I):86-95 (1991). See also van Dijk and van de Winkel, Curr. Opin. Pharmacol, 5: 368-74 (2001). Human antibodies can be prepared by administering the antigen to a transgenic animal that has been modified to produce such antibodies in response to antigenic challenge, but whose endogenous loci have been disabled, e.g., immunized HuMab mice (see, e.g., Nils Lonberg et al., 1994, Nature 368:856-859, WO 98/24884, WO 94/25585, WO 93/1227, WO 92/22645, WO 92/03918 and WO 01/09187 regarding HuMab mice), xenomice (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,075,181 and 6,150,584 regarding XENOMOUSE™ technology) or Trianni mice (see, e.g., WO 2013/063391, WO 2017/035252 and WO 2017/136734 regarding Trianni mice).

The term “humanized antibody” refers to an antibody that has been engineered to comprise one or more human framework regions in the variable region together with non-human (e.g., mouse, rat, or hamster) complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of the heavy and/or light chain. In certain embodiments, a humanized antibody comprises sequences that are entirely human except for the CDR regions. Humanized antibodies are typically less immunogenic to humans, relative to non-humanized antibodies, and thus offer therapeutic benefits in certain situations. Those skilled in the art will be aware of humanized antibodies and will also be aware of suitable techniques for their generation. See for example, Hwang, W. Y. K., et al., Methods 36:35, 2005; Queen et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:10029-10033, 1989; Jones et al., Nature, 321:522-25, 1986; Riechmann et al., Nature, 332:323-27, 1988; Verhoeyen et al., Science, 239:1534-36, 1988; Orlandi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:3833-37, 1989; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,225,539; 5,530,101; 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762; 6,180,370; and Selick et al., WO 90/07861, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The term “multispecific antibody” is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers an antibody comprising a heavy chain variable domain (VH) and a light chain variable domain (VL), where the VH-VL unit has polyepitopic specificity (i.e., is capable of binding to two different epitopes on one biological molecule or each epitope on a different biological molecule). Such multispecific antibodies include, but are not limited to, full-length antibodies, antibodies having two or more VL and VH domains, bispecific diabodies and triabodies. “Polyepitopic specificity” refers to the ability to specifically bind to two or more different epitopes on the same or different target(s).

“Dual specificity” or “bispecificity” refers to the ability to specifically bind to two different epitopes on the same or different target(s). However, in contrast to bispecific antibodies, dual-specific antibodies have two antigen-binding arms that are identical in amino acid sequence and each Fab arm is capable of recognizing two antigens. Dual-specificity allows the antibodies to interact with high affinity with two different antigens as a single Fab or IgG molecule. According to one embodiment, the multispecific antibody in an IgG1 form binds to each epitope with an affinity of 5 μM to 0.001 pM, 3 μM to 0.001 pM, 1 μM to 0.001 pM, 0.5 μM to 0.001 pM or 0.1 μM to 0.001 pM. “Monospecific” refers to the ability to bind only one epitope. Multi-specific antibodies can have structures similar to full immunoglobulin molecules and include Fc regions, for example IgG Fc regions. Such structures can include, but are not limited to, IgG-Fv, IgG-(scFv)2, DVD-Ig, (scFv)2-(scFv)2-Fc and (scFv)2-Fc-(scFv)2. In case of IgG-(scFv)2, the scFv can be attached to either the N-terminal or the C-terminal end of either the heavy chain or the light chain.

As used herein, the term “bispecific antibodies” refers to monoclonal, often human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different antigens. In the invention, one of the binding specificities can be directed towards CLDN18.2, the other can be for any other antigen, e.g., for a cell-surface protein, receptor, receptor subunit, tissue-specific antigen, virally derived protein, virally encoded envelope protein, bacterially derived protein, or bacterial surface protein, etc.

As used herein, the term “diabodies” refers to bivalent antibodies comprising two polypeptide chains, in which each polypeptide chain includes VH and VL domains joined by a linker that is too short (e.g., a linker composed of five amino acids) to allow for intramolecular association of VH and VL domains on the same peptide chain. This configuration forces each domain to pair with a complementary domain on another polypeptide chain so as to form a homodimeric structure. Accordingly, the term “triabodies” refers to trivalent antibodies comprising three peptide chains, each of which contains one VH domain and one VL domain joined by a linker that is exceedingly short (e.g., a linker composed of 1-2 amino acids) to permit intramolecular association of VH and VL domains within the same peptide chain.

The term “antibody fragment” refers to a molecule other than an intact antibody that comprises a portion of an intact antibody that binds the antigen to which the intact antibody binds. Examples of antibody fragments include but are not limited to Fv, Fab, Fab′, Fab′-SH, F(ab)₂; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules (e.g., scFv). Papain digestion of antibodies produces two identical antigen-binding fragments, called “Fab” fragments, and a residual “Fc” fragment, a designation reflecting the ability to crystallize readily. The Fab fragment consists of an entire light (L) chain (VL) along with the variable region domain of the heavy (H) chain (VH), and the first constant domain of one heavy chain (CH1). Pepsin treatment of an antibody yields a single large F(ab)₂ fragment which roughly corresponds to two disulfide linked Fab fragments having divalent antigen-binding activity and is still capable of cross-linking antigen. Fab fragments differ from F(ab)₂ fragments by having additional few residues at the carboxy terminus of the CH1 domain including one or more cysteines from the antibody hinge region. Fab′-SH is the designation herein for Fab′ in which the cysteine residue(s) of the constant domains bear a free thiol group. F(ab′)₂ antibody fragments originally were produced as pairs of Fab′ fragments which have hinge cysteines between them. Other chemical couplings of antibody fragments are also known.

The terms “antigen-binding domain” or “antigen-binding portion” of an antibody (or more simply “binding domain” or “binding portion”) or similar terms refer to one or more fragments of an antibody that retain the ability to specifically bind to an antigen complex. Examples of binding fragments encompassed within the term “antigen-binding portion” of an antibody include (i) Fab fragments, monovalent fragments consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CH domains; (ii) F(ab′)2 fragments, bivalent fragments comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulfide bridge at the hinge region; (iii) Fd fragments consisting of the VH and CH domains; (iv) Fv fragments consisting of the VL and VH domains of a single arm of an antibody, (v) dAb fragments (Ward et al., (1989) Nature 341: 544-546), which consist of a VH domain; (vi) isolated complementarity determining regions (CDR), and (vii) combinations of two or more isolated CDRs which may optionally be joined by a synthetic linker.

“Fv” consists of a dimer of one heavy- and one light-chain variable region domain in tight, non-covalent association. From the folding of these two domains emanate six hypervariable loops (3 loops each from the H and L chain) that contribute the amino acid residues for antigen binding and confer antigen binding specificity to the antibody.

“Single-chain Fv” also abbreviated as “sFv” or “scFv” are antibody fragments that comprise the VH and VL antibody domains connected into a single polypeptide chain. Preferably, the sFv polypeptide further comprises a polypeptide linker between the VH and VL domains which enables the sFv to form the desired structure for antigen binding. For a review of sFv, see Plückthun in The Pharmacology of Monoclonal Antibodies, vol. 113, Rosenburg and Moore eds., Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 269-315 (1994).

“Complementarity determining region” or “CDR” as the terms are used herein refer to short polypeptide sequences within the variable region of both heavy and light chain polypeptides that are primarily responsible for mediating specific antigen recognition. There are three CDRs (termed CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3) within each V_(L) and each V_(H).

As will be appreciated by those in the art, the exact numbering and placement of the CDRs can be different among different numbering systems. However, it should be understood that the disclosure of a variable heavy and/or variable light sequence includes the disclosure of the associated CDRs. Accordingly, the disclosure of each variable heavy region is a disclosure of the vhCDRs (e.g. vhCDR1, vhCDR2 and vhCDR3) and the disclosure of each variable light region is a disclosure of the vhCDRs (e.g. vlCDR1, vlCDR2 and vlCDR3).

In certain embodiments, the CDRs of an antibody can be determined according to the IMGT numbering system as described in Lefranc M-P, (1999) The Immunologist 7: 132-136 and Lefranc M-P et al, (1999) Nucleic Acids Res 27: 209-212, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Unless stated otherwise herein, references to residue numbers in the variable domain of antibodies mean residue numbering by the IMGT numbering system.

In other embodiments, the CDRs of an antibody can be determined according to MacCallum R M et al, (1996) J Mol Biol 262: 732-745, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. See also, e.g. Martin A. “Protein Sequence and Structure Analysis of Antibody Variable Domains,” in Antibody Engineering, Kontermann and Diibel, eds., Chapter 31, pp. 422-439, Springer-Verlag, Berlin (2001), herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, the CDRs of an antibody can be determined according to the AbM numbering scheme, which refers to AbM hypervariable regions, which represent a compromise between the Kabat CDRs and Chothia structural loops, and are used by Oxford Molecular's AbM antibody modeling software (Oxford Molecular Group, Inc.), herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

“Framework” or “framework region” or “FR” refers to variable domain residues other than the hypervariable region (HVR) residues. The FR of a variable domain generally consists of four FR domains: FR1, FR2, FR3, and FR4.

A “human consensus framework” is a framework which represents the most commonly occurring amino acid residues in a selection of human immunoglobulin VL or VH framework sequences. Generally, the selection of human immunoglobulin VL or VH sequences is from a subgroup of variable domain sequences. Generally, the subgroup of sequences is a subgroup as in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Fifth Edition, NIH Publication 91-3242, Bethesda Md. (1991), vols. 1-3. In one embodiment, for the VL, the subgroup is subgroup kappa I as in Kabat et al., supra. In one embodiment, for the VH, the subgroup is subgroup I11 as in Kabat et al., supra.

The “hinge region” is generally defined as stretching from 216-238 (EU numbering) or 226-251 (Kabat numbering) of human IgG1. The hinge can be further divided into three distinct regions, the upper, middle (e.g., core), and lower hinge.

The term “Fc region” herein is used to define a C-terminal region of an immunoglobulin heavy chain that contains at least a portion of the constant region and interacts with endogenous receptors present on the surface of cells of the immune system and some proteins of the complement system. The term includes native sequence Fc regions and variant Fc regions. In one embodiment, a human IgG heavy chain Fc region extends from Cys226, or from Pro230, to the carboxyl-terminus of the heavy chain. However, the C-terminal lysine (Lys447) of the Fc region may or may not be present. Unless otherwise specified herein, the numbering of amino acid residues in the Fc region or constant region is according to the EU numbering system, also called the EU index, as described in Kabat et al., Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991).

The term “isolated antibody” when used to describe the various antibodies disclosed herein, means an antibody that has been identified and separated and/or recovered from a cell or cell culture from which it was expressed. Contaminant components of its natural environment are materials that would typically interfere with diagnostic or therapeutic uses for the polypeptide, and can include enzymes, hormones, and other proteinaceous or non-proteinaceous solutes. In some embodiments, an antibody is purified to greater than 95% or 99% purity as determined by, for example, electrophoretic (e.g., SDS-PAGE, isoelectric focusing (IEF), capillary electrophoresis) or chromatographic (e.g., ion exchange or reverse phase HPLC) approaches. For a review of methods for assessment of antibody purity, see, for example, Flatman et al., J. Chromatogr. B 848:79-87 (2007). In preferred embodiments, the antibody will be purified (1) to a degree sufficient to obtain at least 15 residues of N-terminal or internal amino acid sequence by use of a spinning cup sequenator, or (2) to homogeneity by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing or reducing conditions using Coomassie blue or, preferably, silver stain. Isolated antibody includes antibodies in situ within recombinant cells because at least one component of the polypeptide natural environment will not be present.

An “epitope” is a term of art that indicates the site or sites of interaction between an antibody and its antigen(s). As described by (Janeway, C, Jr., P. Travers, et al. (2001). Immunobiology: the immune system in health and disease. Part II, Section 3-8. New York, Garland Publishing, Inc.): “An antibody generally recognizes only a small region on the surface of a large molecule such as a protein . . . . [Certain epitopes] are likely to be composed of amino acids from different parts of the [antigen] polypeptide chain that have been brought together by protein folding. Antigenic determinants of this kind are known as conformational or discontinuous epitopes because the structure recognized is composed of segments of the protein that are discontinuous in the amino acid sequence of the antigen but are brought together in the three-dimensional structure. In contrast, an epitope composed of a single segment of polypeptide chain is termed a continuous or linear epitope” (Janeway, C., Jr., P. Travers, et al. (2001). Immunobiology: the immune system in health and disease. Part H Section 3-8. New York, Garland Publishing, Inc.).

An “antibody that binds to the same epitope” as a reference antibody refers to an antibody that contacts an overlapping set of amino acid residues of the antigen as compared to the reference antibody or blocks binding of the reference antibody to its antigen in a competition assay by 50% or more. The amino acid residues of an antibody that contact an antigen can be determined, for example, by determining the crystal structure of the antibody in complex with the antigen or by performing hydrogen/deuterium exchange. In some embodiments, residues of an antibody that are within 5 Å the antigen are considered to contact the antigen. In some embodiments, an antibody that binds to the same epitope as a reference antibody blocks binding of the reference antibody to its antigen in a competition assay by 50% or more, and conversely, the reference antibody blocks binding of the antibody to its antigen in a competition assay by 50% or more.

A “blocking” antibody or an “antagonist” antibody is one which inhibits or reduces biological activity of the antigen it binds. Certain blocking antibodies or antagonist antibodies substantially or completely inhibit the biological activity of the antigen.

With regard to the binding of an antibody to a target molecule, the term “specific binding” or “specifically binds to” or is “specific for” a particular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide target means binding that is measurably different from a non-specific interaction. For example, as used herein the terms “specific binding.” “specifically binds,” and “selectively binds” refer to antibody binding to an epitope of human CLDN18.2 where the binding is measurably different from a non-specific interaction. Specific binding can be measured, for example, by determining binding of a molecule compared to the binding of a control molecule. For example, specific binding can be determined by competition with a control molecule that is similar to the target, for example, an excess of non-labeled target. In this case, specific binding is indicated if the binding of the labeled target to a probe is competitively inhibited by the excess unlabeled target. The term “specific binding” or “specifically binds to” or is “specific for” a particular polypeptide or an epitope on a particular polypeptide target as used herein can be exhibited, for example, by a molecule having a KD for the target of 10-4 M or lower, alternatively 10-5 M or lower, alternatively 10-6 M or lower, alternatively 10-7 M or lower, alternatively 10-8 M or lower, alternatively 10-9 M or lower, alternatively 10-10 M or lower, alternatively 10-11 M or lower, alternatively 10-12 M or lower or a KD in the range of 10-4 M to 10-6 M or 10-6 M to 10-10 M or 10-7 M to 10-9 M. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, affinity and KD values are inversely related. A high affinity for an antigen is measured by a low KD value. In one embodiment, the term “specific binding” refers to binding where a molecule binds to a particular polypeptide or epitope on a particular polypeptide without substantially binding to any other polypeptide or polypeptide epitope.

The term “affinity,” as used herein, means the strength of the binding of an antibody to an epitope. The affinity of an antibody is given by the dissociation constant Kd, defined as [Ab]×[Ag]/[Ab−Ag], where [Ab−Ag] is the molar concentration of the antibody-antigen complex, [Ab] is the molar concentration of the unbound antibody and [Ag] is the molar concentration of the unbound antigen. The affinity constant Ka is defined by 1/Kd. Methods for determining the affinity of mAbs can be found in Harlow, et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1988), Coligan et al., eds., Current Protocols in Immunology, Greene Publishing Assoc. and Wiley Interscience, N.Y., (1992, 1993), and Muller, Meth. Enzymol. 92:589-601 (1983), which references are entirely incorporated herein by reference. One standard method well known in the art for determining the affinity of mAbs is the use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) screening (such as by analysis with a BIAcore™ SPR analytical device).

“EC50” with respect to an agent and a particular activity (e.g. binding to a cell, inhibition of enzymatic activity, activation or inhibition of an immune cell), refers to the efficient concentration of the agent which produces 50% of its maximum response or effect with respect to such activity. “EC100” with respect to an agent and a particular activity refers to the efficient concentration of the agent which produces its substantially maximum response with respect to such activity.

The term “effector functions” refer to those biological activities attributable to the Fc region of an antibody, which vary with the antibody isotype. Examples of antibody effector functions include C1q binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC); Fc receptor binding; antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC); phagocytosis; down-regulation of cell surface receptors (e.g., B cell receptor); and B cell activation.

As used herein the term “Fc γ receptor” refers to a family of endogenous receptors located in the membranes of immune cells including B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and mast cells which binds the Fc region of antibodies and is involved in antigen recognition.

As used herein, the term “specifically binds” when referring to a binding pair (e.g. antibody/cell surface molecule), indicates a binding reaction which is determinative of the presence of the protein, e.g., CLDN18.2, in a heterogeneous population of proteins and/or other biologics. Thus, under designated conditions, a specified antibody binds to a particular cell surface marker and does not bind in a significant amount to other proteins present on a cell surface or in a sample.

As used herein the term “specifically binds CLDN18.2” refers to the ability of an antibody, or antigen-binding fragment to recognize and bind endogenous claudin 18 isoform 2 as it occurs on the surface of normal or malignant cells, but not to claudin 18 isoform 1 (CLDN18.1), or to any other lineage-specific cell surface marker.

As used herein the term “endocytosis” refers to the process where eukaryotic cells internalize segments of the plasma membrane, cell-surface receptors, and components from the extracellular fluid. Endocytosis mechanisms include receptor-mediated endocytosis. The term “receptor-mediated endocytosis” refers to a biological mechanism by which a ligand, upon binding to its target, triggers membrane invagination and pinching, gets internalized and delivered into the cytosol or transferred to appropriate intracellular compartments.

As used herein the terms “antibody-based immunotherapy” and “immunotherapies” are used to broadly refer to any form of therapy that relies on the targeting specificity of an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody, bispecific molecule, antigen-binding domain, or fusion protein comprising a CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragments or CDRs thereof, to mediate a direct or indirect effect on a cell characterized by aberrant expression of CLDN18.2. The terms are meant to encompass methods of treatment using naked antibodies, bispecific antibodies (including T cell engaging, NK cell engaging and other immune cell/effector cell engaging formats) antibody drug conjugates, cellular therapies using T cells (CAR-T) or NK cells (CAR-NK) engineered to comprise a CLDN18.2-specific chimeric antigen receptor and oncolytic viruses comprising a CLDN18.2 specific binding agent, and gene therapies by delivering the antigen binding sequences of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies and express the corresponding antibody fragments in vivo.

It is noted here that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Claudin 18 (CLDN18)

The claudin family of proteins were first cloned and named in 1998 as crucial structural and functional components of tight junctions. As a family, claudins are a multigene family of tetra-transmembrane proteins involved in the barrier functions of epithelial and endothelial cells and the maintenance of the cytoskeleton (Furuse et al., J. Cell. Biol. 141(7):1539-50, 1998). CLDN18 has different variants or conformations, including CLDN18 isoform 1 (CLDN18.1) and CLDN18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2).

The first extracellular domain (ECD) of a claudin protein typically consists of about 50 amino acids, while the second one is smaller having about 22 amino acids (Hashimoto, et al. Drug Discovery Today 21(10):1711-1718, 2016). The N-terminal end is usually very short (e.g. about four to ten amino acids) while the C-terminal end ranges from 21 to about 63 amino acids and is required for localization of the proteins in tight junctions.

The observation that tight junction permeability is often higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues, has led to speculation that claudin proteins on tumor cells may be more accessible than in normal tissues with intact tight junctions. This observation also makes claudin proteins attractive targets for therapeutic cancer interventions. In addition, published expression profiling results suggest that cancer therapies targeting CLDN18.2 will have favorable systemic toxicity profiles because normal turnover and homeostasis processes replenish gastrointestinal epithelial cells every two to seven days (Sahin et al). Transient gastrointestinal toxicity of limited duration is a common and manageable adverse event for cancer immunotherapeutics.

CLDN18.2 comprises four membrane spanning domains with two small extracellular loops (loop 1 embraced by hydrophobic region 1 and hydrophobic region 2; loop 2 embraced by hydrophobic regions 3 and 4). CLDN18.2 is a transmembrane protein, therefore epitopes present within, or formed by, its extracellular loops represent desirable targets for antibody-based cancer immunotherapy. However, given that CLDN18.1 is expressed by alveolar epithelial cells in normal lung tissue, which is a tissue that is highly relevant to toxicity, exclusive splice variant specificity was a recognized prerequisite for the use of CLDN18.2-specific antibodies for antibody-based cancer immunotherapy. Sahin et al were the first to report proof-of-concept results validating CLDN18.2 as a druggable target for cancer immunotherapies based on the isolation of antibodies (polyclonal and monoclonal) that exclusively bind to CLDN18.2 and not to CLDN18.1 (Sahin et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 14 (23) 7624-7634, 2008).

CLDN18.2 is expressed in a number of primary tumors and their metastasis, including gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer such as non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head-neck cancer, and cancers of the gall bladder. Dysregulated expression of claudins are detected in many cancers and may contribute to tumorigenesis and cancer invasiveness (Singh et al., J Oncology 2010; 2010: 541957). The expression of CLDN18.2 is notably elevated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) (Tanaka et al., J Histochem Cytochem. 2011; 59:942-952), esophageal tumors, non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), ovarian cancers (Sahin et al., Hu Cancer Biol. 2008; 14:7624-7634), and bile duct adenocarcinomas (Keira et al., Virchows Arch. 2015; 466:265-277).

Despite the fact that gastric cancer contributes to significant cancer-related morbidity and mortality, the treatment options for gastric cancer are limited. Claudins are present in normal tissues, benign neoplasms, hyperplastic conditions and cancers (Ding et al., Cancer Manag. Res. 5:367-375 (2013)). The expression pattern of claudins is highly tissue-specific, and most tissues express multiple claudins. Claudin proteins can interact with claudins from adjacent cells in a homotypic or heterotypic fashion to form tight junctions (Ding et al.). Alterations in claudin expression and signaling pathways are known to be associated with cancer development and an association between the function of impaired tight junctions and tumor progression has been widely reported.

Anti-CLDN18.2 Antibodies

Anti-CLDN18 antibodies, in particular human and murine monoclonal anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, that specifically bind to the first extracellular domain/loop of CLDN18.2 are provided. Binding of the CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment to CLDN18.2 can mediate complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADPC), and/or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or other effects that result in the death of the targeted cancer cell. Alternatively, the antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof can, for example, serve to deliver a conjugated cytotoxic drug, and/or can form a bispecific antibody with another monoclonal antibody to mediate the death of the targeted cancer cell.

In an embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a VH having a set of CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3) disclosed in Table 1 or Table 2. For example, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof may comprise a set of CDRs corresponding to those CDRs in one or more of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody heavy chains described in Table 2 (e.g., the CDRs of the Hu-1 antibody).

In another embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies comprise a VL having a set of CDRs (LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3) as disclosed in Table 3 or Table 4. For example, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof may comprise a set of CDRs corresponding to those CDRs in one or more of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody light chains described in Table 4 (e.g., the CDRs of the Hu-1 antibody).

In an alternative embodiment, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a VH having a set of CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3) as disclosed in Table 1, and a VL having a set of CDRs (LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3) as disclosed in Table 3.

In an alternative embodiment, the anti-CLDN18 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a VH having a set of CDRs (HCDR1, HCDR2, and HCDR3) as disclosed in Table 2, and a VL having a set of CDRs (LCDR1, LCDR2, and LCDR3) as disclosed in Table 4.

In a particular embodiment the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody may comprise a set of six (6) CDRs derived from a single murine antibody (VH CDRs in Table 1 and VL CDRs in Table 3) or fully human antibody (VH CDRs in Table 2 and VL CDRs in Table 4). For example, the antibody may comprise a set of six CDR regions derived from the fully human anti-CLDN18.2 antibody “Hu-1.” In this instance, the binding agent would comprise the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOS: 221-223 and SEQ ID NOS: 224-226, representing the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of the variable heavy and the CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences of the variable light domains, respectively, of the Hu-1 antibody.

TABLE 1 CDR sequences of Murine Variable Heavy Chain Domains anti-CLDN18.2 mAb CDR1 CDR2 CDR3 Ms1 SEQ ID NO: 47 SEQ ID NO: 48 SEQ ID NO: 49 Ms2 SEQ ID NO: 53 SEQ ID NO: 54 SEQ ID NO: 55 Ms3 SEQ ID NO: 59 SEQ ID NO: 60 SEQ ID NO: 61 Ms4 SEQ ID NO: 65 SEQ ID NO: 66 SEQ ID NO: 67 Ms5 SEQ ID NO: 71 SEQ ID NO: 72 SEQ ID NO: 73 Ms6 SEQ ID NO: 77 SEQ ID NO: 78 SEQ ID NO: 79 Ms7 SEQ ID NO: 83 SEQ ID NO: 84 SEQ ID NO: 85 Ms8 SEQ ID NO: 89 SEQ ID NO: 90 SEQ ID NO: 91 Ms9 SEQ ID NO: 95 SEQ ID NO: 96 SEQ ID NO: 97 Ms10 SEQ ID NO: 101 SEQ ID NO: 102 SEQ ID NO: 103 Ms11 SEQ ID NO: 107 SEQ ID NO: 108 SEQ ID NO: 109 Ms12 SEQ ID NO: 113 SEQ ID NO: 114 SEQ ID NO: 115 Ms13 SEQ ID NO: 119 SEQ ID NO: 120 SEQ ID NO: 121 Ms14 SEQ ID NO: 125 SEQ ID NO: 126 SEQ ID NO: 127 Ms15 SEQ ID NO: 131 SEQ ID NO: 132 SEQ ID NO: 133 Ms16 SEQ ID NO: 137 SEQ ID NO: 138 SEQ ID NO: 139 Ms17 SEQ ID NO: 143 SEQ ID NO: 144 SEQ ID NO: 145 Ms18 SEQ ID NO: 149 SEQ ID NO: 150 SEQ ID NO: 151 Ms19 SEQ ID NO: 155 SEQ ID NO: 156 SEQ ID NO: 157 Ms20 SEQ ID NO: 161 SEQ ID NO: 162 SEQ ID NO: 163 Ms21 SEQ ID NO: 167 SEQ ID NO: 168 SEQ ID NO: 169 Ms22 SEQ ID NO: 173 SEQ ID NO: 174 SEQ ID NO: 175 Ms23 SEQ ID NO: 179 SEQ ID NO: 180 SEQ ID NO: 181

TABLE 2 CDR sequences of Human Variable Heavy Chain Domains anti-CLDN18.2 mAb CDR1 CDR2 CDR3 Hu-1 SEQ ID NO: 221 SEQ ID NO: 222 SEQ ID NO: 223 Hu-2 SEQ ID NO: 227 SEQ ID NO: 228 SEQ ID NO: 229 Hu-3 SEQ ID NO: 233 SEQ ID NO: 234 SEQ ID NO: 235 Hu-4 SEQ ID NO: 239 SEQ ID NO: 240 SEQ ID NO: 241 Hu-5 SEQ ID NO: 245 SEQ ID NO: 246 SEQ ID NO: 247 Hu-6 SEQ ID NO: 251 SEQ ID NO: 252 SEQ ID NO: 253 Hu-7 SEQ ID NO: 257 SEQ ID NO: 258 SEQ ID NO: 259 Hu-8 SEQ ID NO: 263 SEQ ID NO: 264 SEQ ID NO: 265 Hu-9 SEQ ID NO: 269 SEQ ID NO: 270 SEQ ID NO: 271 Hu-10 SEQ ID NO: 275 SEQ ID NO: 276 SEQ ID NO: 277 Hu-11 SEQ ID NO: 281 SEQ ID NO: 282 SEQ ID NO: 283 Hu-12 SEQ ID NO: 287 SEQ ID NO: 288 SEQ ID NO: 289 Hu-13 SEQ ID NO: 293 SEQ ID NO: 294 SEQ ID NO: 295 Hu-14 SEQ ID NO: 299 SEQ ID NO: 300 SEQ ID NO: 301 Hu-16 SEQ ID NO: 311 SEQ ID NO: 312 SEQ ID NO: 313 Hu-17 SEQ ID NO: 317 SEQ ID NO: 318 SEQ ID NO: 319 Hu-18 SEQ ID NO: 323 SEQ ID NO: 324 SEQ ID NO: 325

TABLE 3 CDR sequences of Murine Variable Light Chain Domains anti-CLDN18.2 mAb CDR1 CDR2 CDR3 Ms1 SEQ ID NO: 50 SEQ ID NO: 51 SEQ ID NO: 52 Ms2 SEQ ID NO: 56 SEQ ID NO: 57 SEQ ID NO: 58 Ms3 SEQ ID NO: 62 SEQ ID NO: 63 SEQ ID NO: 64 Ms4 SEQ ID NO: 68 SEQ ID NO: 69 SEQ ID NO: 70 Ms5 SEQ ID NO: 74 SEQ ID NO: 75 SEQ ID NO: 76 Ms6 SEQ ID NO: 80 SEQ ID NO: 81 SEQ ID NO: 82 Ms7 SEQ ID NO: 86 SEQ ID NO: 87 SEQ ID NO: 88 Ms8 SEQ ID NO: 92 SEQ ID NO: 93 SEQ ID NO: 94 Ms9 SEQ ID NO: 98 SEQ ID NO: 99 SEQ ID NO: 101 Ms10 SEQ ID NO: 104 SEQ ID NO: 105 SEQ ID NO: 106 Ms11 SEQ ID NO: 110 SEQ ID NO: 111 SEQ ID NO: 112 Ms12 SEQ ID NO: 116 SEQ ID NO: 117 SEQ ID NO: 118 Ms13 SEQ ID NO: 122 SEQ ID NO: 123 SEQ ID NO: 124 Ms14 SEQ ID NO: 128 SEQ ID NO: 129 SEQ ID NO: 130 Ms15 SEQ ID NO: 134 SEQ ID NO: 135 SEQ ID NO: 136 Ms16 SEQ ID NO: 140 SEQ ID NO: 141 SEQ ID NO: 142 Ms17 SEQ ID NO: 146 SEQ ID NO: 147 SEQ ID NO: 148 Ms18 SEQ ID NO: 152 SEQ ID NO: 153 SEQ ID NO: 154 Ms19 SEQ ID NO: 158 SEQ ID NO: 159 SEQ ID NO: 160 Ms20 SEQ ID NO: 164 SEQ ID NO: 165 SEQ ID NO: 166 Ms21 SEQ ID NO: 170 SEQ ID NO: 171 SEQ ID NO: 172 Ms22 SEQ ID NO: 176 SEQ ID NO: 177 SEQ ID NO: 178 Ms23 SEQ ID NO: 182 SEQ ID NO: 183 SEQ ID NO: 184

TABLE 4 CDR sequences of Human Variable Light Chain Domains anti-CLDN18.2 mAb CDR1 CDR2 CDR3 Hu-1 SEQ ID NO: 224 SEQ ID NO: 225 SEQ ID NO: 226 Hu-2 SEQ ID NO: 230 SEQ ID NO: 231 SEQ ID NO: 232 Hu-3 SEQ ID NO: 236 SEQ ID NO: 237 SEQ ID NO: 238 Hu-4 SEQ ID NO: 242 SEQ ID NO: 243 SEQ ID NO: 244 Hu-5 SEQ ID NO: 248 SEQ ID NO: 249 SEQ ID NO: 250 Hu-6 SEQ ID NO: 254 SEQ ID NO: 255 SEQ ID NO: 256 Hu-7 SEQ ID NO: 260 SEQ ID NO: 261 SEQ ID NO: 262 Hu-8 SEQ ID NO: 266 SEQ ID NO: 267 SEQ ID NO: 268 Hu-9 SEQ ID NO: 272 SEQ ID NO: 273 SEQ ID NO: 274 Hu-10 SEQ ID NO: 278 SEQ ID NO: 279 SEQ ID NO: 280 Hu-11 SEQ ID NO: 284 SEQ ID NO: 285 SEQ ID NO: 286 Hu-12 SEQ ID NO: 290 SEQ ID NO: 291 SEQ ID NO: 292 Hu-13 SEQ ID NO: 296 SEQ ID NO: 297 SEQ ID NO: 298 Hu-14 SEQ ID NO: 302 SEQ ID NO: 303 SEQ ID NO: 304 Hu-16 SEQ ID NO: 314 SEQ ID NO: 315 SEQ ID NO: 316 Hu-17 SEQ ID NO: 320 SEQ ID NO: 321 SEQ ID NO: 322 Hu-18 SEQ ID NO: 326 SEQ ID NO: 327 SEQ ID NO: 328

In an embodiment, the antibody may be a monoclonal, chimeric, humanized or human antibody, or antigen-binding portions thereof, or bispecific or multispecific binding agent that specifically binds to human CLDN18 isoform 2.

In another embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragment comprise defined sets/combinations of complementarity determining region (CDR) sequences derived from the disclosed VH and/or VL domains of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies.

In an embodiment, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof exhibits one or more of the following properties: binding preferentially to CLDN18 isoform 2 expressed by human tumor cells, not binding to CLDN18 isoform 1 (CLDN18.1), efficiently internalized from the surface of CLDN18.2 positive cells after binding, and capable of directing the killing of CLDN18.2 positive cells by inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated lysis.

In an embodiment, anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise a VH comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 47, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 48, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         49;     -   (ii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 53, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 54, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         55;     -   (iii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 59, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 60, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         61;     -   (iv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 65, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 66, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         67;     -   (v) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 71, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 72, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         73;     -   (vi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 77, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 78, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         79;     -   (vii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 83, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 84, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         85;     -   (viii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 89, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 90, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 91;     -   (ix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 95, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 96, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         97;     -   (x) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 101, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 102, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         103;     -   (xi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 107, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 108, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 109;     -   (xii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 113, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 114, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 115;     -   (xiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 119, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 120, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 121;     -   (xiv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 125, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 126, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 127;     -   (xv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 131, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 132, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 133;     -   (xvi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 137, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 138, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 139;     -   (xvii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 143, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 144, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 145;     -   (xviii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 149, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 150, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 151;     -   (xix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 155, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 156, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 157;     -   (xx) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 161, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 162, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 163;     -   (xxi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 167, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 168, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 169;     -   (xxii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 173, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 174, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 175; and     -   (xxiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 179, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 180, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 181.

In an embodiment, anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies or binding fragments thereof comprise a VL comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 50, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 51, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         52;     -   (ii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 56, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 57, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         58;     -   (iii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 62, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 63, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         64;     -   (iv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 68, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 69, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         70;     -   (v) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 74, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 75, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         76;     -   (vi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 80, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 81, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         82;     -   (vii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 86, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 87, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         88;     -   (viii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 92, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 93, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 94;     -   (ix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 98, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 99, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         100;     -   (x) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 104, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 105, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         106;     -   (xi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 110, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 111, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 112;     -   (xii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 116, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 117, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 118;     -   (xiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 122, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 124;     -   (xiv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 128, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 129, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 130;     -   (xv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 134, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 135, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 136;     -   (xvi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 140, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 141, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 142;     -   (xvii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 146, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 147, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 148;     -   (xviii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 152, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 153, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 154;     -   (xix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 158, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 159, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 160;     -   (xx) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 164, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 165, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 166;     -   (xxi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 170, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 171, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 172;     -   (xxii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 176, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 177, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 178; and     -   (xxiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 182, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 183, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 184.

In an embodiment, antibodies having the ability of binding to CLDN18.2 comprise a combination of VH and VL each comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 47, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 48, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 49, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 50, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 51, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 52;     -   (ii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 53, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 54, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 55, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 56, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 57, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 58;     -   (iii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 59, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 60, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 61, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 62, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 63, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 64;     -   (iv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 65, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 66, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 67, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 68, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 69, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 70;     -   (v) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 71, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 72, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 73, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 74, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 75, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 76;     -   (vi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 77, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 78, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 79, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 80, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 81, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 82;     -   (vii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 83, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 84, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 85, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 86, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 87, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 88;     -   (viii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 89, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 90, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 91, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 92, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 93, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 94;     -   (ix) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 95, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 96, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 97, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 98, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 99, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 100;     -   (x) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 101, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 102, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 103, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 104, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 105, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 106;     -   (xi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 107, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 108, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 109, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 110, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 111,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 112;     -   (xii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 113, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 114, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 115, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 116, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 117,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 118;

(xiii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 119, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 120, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 121, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 122, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 123, CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 124;

-   -   (xiv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 125, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 126, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 127, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 128, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 129,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 130;     -   (xv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 131, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 132, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 133, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 134, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 135,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 136;     -   (xvi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 137, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 138, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 139, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 140, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 141,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 142;     -   (xvii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 143, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 144, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 145, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 146, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 147,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 148;     -   (xviii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 149, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 150, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 151, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 152, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 153,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 154;     -   (xix) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 155, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 156, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 157, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 158, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 159,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 160;     -   (xx) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 161, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 162, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 163, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 164, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 165,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 166;     -   (xxi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 167, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 168, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 169, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 170, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 171,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 172;     -   (xxii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 173, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 174, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 175, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 176, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 177,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 178; and     -   (xxiii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 179, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 180, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 181, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 182, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 183,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 184.

In an embodiment fully human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, or antigen binding fragments thereof, comprise a VH comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 221, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 222, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         223;     -   (ii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 227, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 228, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 229;     -   (iii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 233, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 234, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 235;     -   (iv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 239, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 240, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 241;     -   (v) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 245, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 246, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         247;     -   (vi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 251, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 252, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 253;     -   (vii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 257, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 258, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 259;     -   (viii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 263, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 264, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 265;     -   (ix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 269, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 270, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 271;     -   (x) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 275, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 276, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         277;     -   (xi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 281, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 282, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 283;     -   (xii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 287, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 288, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 289;     -   (xiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 293, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 294, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 295;     -   (xiv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 299, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 300, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 301;     -   (xv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 311, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 312, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 313;     -   (xvi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 317, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 318, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 319; and     -   (xvii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 323, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 324, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 325.

In an embodiment, fully human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, or antigen binding fragments thereof, comprise a VL comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 224, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 225, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         226;     -   (ii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 230, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 231, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 232;     -   (iii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 236, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 237, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 238;     -   (iv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 242, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 243, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 244;     -   (v) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 248, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 249, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         250;     -   (vi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 254, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 255, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 256;     -   (vii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 260, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 261, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 262;     -   (viii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 266, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 267, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 268;     -   (ix) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 272, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 273, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 274;     -   (x) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 278, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 279, CDR3: SEQ ID NO:         280;     -   (xi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 284, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 285, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 286;     -   (xii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 290, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 291, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 292;     -   (xiii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 296, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 297, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 298;     -   (xiv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 302, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 303, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 304;     -   (xv) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 314, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 315, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 316;     -   (xvi) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 320, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 321, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 322; and     -   (xvii) CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 326, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 327, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 328.

SEQ ID NOs and the amino acid sequences of the variable domains (VH and VL) and CDRs of the murine anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies are provided in FIG. 1 .

SEQ ID NOs and the amino acid sequences of the variable domains (VH and VL) and CDRs of the human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies are provided in FIG. 2 .

In an embodiment, antibodies having the ability of binding to CLDN18.2 comprise a combination of VH and VL each comprising a set of complementarity-determining regions CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (i) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 221, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 222, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 223, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 224, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 225, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 226;     -   (ii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 227, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 228, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 229, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 230, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 231,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 232;     -   (iii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 233, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 234, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 235, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 236, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 237,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 238;     -   (iv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 239, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 240, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 241, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 242, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 243,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 244;     -   (v) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 245, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 246, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 247, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 248, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 249, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 250;     -   (vi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 251, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 252, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 253, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 254, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 255,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 256;     -   (vii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 257, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 258, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 259, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 260, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 261,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 262;     -   (viii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 263, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 264, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 265, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 266, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 267,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 268;     -   (ix) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 269, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 270, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 271, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 272, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 273,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 274;     -   (x) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 275, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 276, CDR3: SEQ ID         NO: 277. VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 278, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 279, CDR3:         SEQ ID NO: 280;     -   (xi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 281, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 282, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 283, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 284, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 285,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 286;     -   (xii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 287, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 288, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 289, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 290, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 291,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 292;     -   (xiii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 293, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 294, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 295, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 296, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 297,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 298;     -   (xiv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 299, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 300, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 301, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 302, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 303,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 304;     -   (xv) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 311, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 312, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 313, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 314, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 315,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 316;     -   (xvi) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 317, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 318, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 319, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 320, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 321,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 322; and     -   (xvii) VH: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 323, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 324, CDR3: SEQ         ID NO: 325, VL: CDR1: SEQ ID NO: 326, CDR2: SEQ ID NO: 327,         CDR3: SEQ ID NO: 328.

In an embodiments, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a variable heavy chain sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 217, and 219 and/or a variable light chain sequence selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218, and 220.

In an embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof comprises a specific pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations: a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 2; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 6; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 8; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 10; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 12; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 13 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 14; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 15 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 16; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 17 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 18; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 19 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 20; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 21 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 22; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 23 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 24; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 25 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 26; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 27 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 28; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 29 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 30; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 31 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 32; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 33 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 34; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 35 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 36; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 37 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 38; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 39 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 40; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 41 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 42; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 43 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:44; and a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:45 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:46.

In an alternative embodiment, fully human anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, or antigen binding fragment thereof, comprise a specific pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations: a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 185 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 186; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 187 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 188; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 189 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 190; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 191 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 192; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 193 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 194; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 195 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 196; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 197 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 198; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 199 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 200; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 201 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 202; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 203 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 204; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 205 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 206; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 207 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 208; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 209 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 210; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 211 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 212; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 215 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 216; a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 217 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 218; and a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 219 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 220.

In an alternative embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations: a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 3 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 4; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 5 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 6; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 7 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 8; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 9 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 11 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 12; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 13 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 15 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 16; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 17 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 18; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 19 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 20; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 21 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 22; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 23 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 24; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 25 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 26; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 27 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 28; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 29 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 30; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 31 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 32; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 33 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 34; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 35 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 36; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 37 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 39 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 40; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 41 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 42; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 43 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 44; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 45 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 46.

In another alternative embodiment, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise a pair of variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences, selected from the following combinations: a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 185 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 186; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 187 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 188; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 189 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 190; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 191 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 192; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 193 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 194; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 195 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 196; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 197 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 198; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 199 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 200; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 201 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 202; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 203 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 204; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 205 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 206; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 207 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 208; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 209 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 210; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 211 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 212; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 215 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 216; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 217 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 218; a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 219 and a variable light chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 220.

In some embodiments, the antibody is a full-length antibody. In other embodiments, the antibody is an antibody fragment including, for example, an antibody fragment selected from the group consisting of: Fab, Fab′, F(ab)2, Fv, domain antibodies (dAbs), and complementarity determining region (CDR) fragments, single-chain antibodies (scFv), chimeric antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, miniantibodies, multispecific antibodies, bispecific antibodies and polypeptides that contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin that is sufficient to confer CLDN18.2-specific binding to the polypeptide.

Thus, in one embodiment, the antibody fragment comprises at least one CDR as described herein. The antibody fragment may comprise at least two, three, four, five, or six CDRs as described herein. The antibody fragment further may comprise at least one variable region domain of an antibody described herein. The variable region domain may be of any size or amino acid composition and will generally comprise at least one CDR sequence responsible for specifically binding to human CLDN18.2, for example, CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3, CDR-L1, CDR-L2, and/or CDR-L3 as described herein, and which is adjacent to or in frame with one or more framework sequences.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibody is a monoclonal antibody. In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibody is a human antibody. In alternative embodiments, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibody is a murine antibody. In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibody is a chimeric antibody, a bispecific antibody, or a humanized antibody.

In some embodiments, the anti-CLDN8.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof comprise one or more conservative amino acid substitutions. A person of skill in the art will recognize that a conservative amino acid substitution is a substitution of one amino acid with another amino acid that has similar structural or chemical properties, such as, for example, a similar side chain. Exemplary conservative substitutions are described in the art, for example, in Watson et al., Molecular Biology of the Gene, The Benjamin/Cummings Publication Company, 4th Ed. (1987).

“Conservative modifications” refer to amino acid modifications that do not significantly affect or alter the binding characteristics of the antibody containing the amino acid sequences. Conservative modifications include amino acid substitutions, additions and deletions. Conservative substitutions are those in which the amino acid is replaced with an amino acid residue having a similar side chain. The families of amino acid residues having similar side chains are well defined and include amino acids with acidic side chains (e.g., aspartic acid, glutamic acid), basic side chains (e.g., lysine, arginine, histidine), nonpolar side chains (e.g., alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, phenylalanine, methionine), uncharged polar side chains (e.g., glycine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, serine, threonine, tyrosine, tryptophan), aromatic side chains (e.g., phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine, tyrosine), aliphatic side chains (e.g., glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine), amide (e.g., asparagine, glutamine), beta-branched side chains (e.g., threonine, valine, isoleucine) and sulfur-containing side chains (cysteine, methionine). Furthermore, any native residue in the polypeptide may also be substituted with alanine, as has been previously described for alanine scanning mutagenesis (MacLennan et al. (1998) Acta Physiol Scand Suppl 643: 55-67; Sasaki et al. (1998) Adv Biophys 35: 1-24). Amino acid substitutions to the antibodies of the invention may be made by known methods for example by PCR mutagenesis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195).

In one embodiment, the IL-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof comprises all six of the CDR regions of the Ms1, Ms2, Ms3, Ms4, Ms5, Ms6, Ms7, Ms8, Ms9, Ms10, Ms11, Ms12, Ms13, Ms14, Ms15, Ms16, Ms17, Ms18, Ms19, Ms20, Ms21, Ms22 or, Ms23 antibodies formatted as a chimeric or a humanized antibody. In other embodiments, the CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof comprises all six of the CDR regions of one of the disclosed fully human antibodies.

In some embodiments, a variable region domain of an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody disclosed herein may be covalently attached at a C-terminal amino acid to at least one other antibody domain or a fragment thereof. Thus, for example, a VH domain that is present in the variable region domain may be linked to an immunoglobulin CH1 domain, or a fragment thereof. Similarly, a VL domain may be linked to a CK domain or a fragment thereof. In this way, for example, the antibody may be a Fab fragment wherein the antigen binding domain contains associated VH and VL domains covalently linked at their C-termini to a CH1 and CK domain, respectively. The CH1 domain may be extended with further amino acids, for example, to provide a hinge region or a portion of a hinge region domain as found in a Fab fragment, or to provide further domains, such as antibody CH2 and CH3 domains.

Antigen binding fragments, monospecific or multispecific antibodies may be produced by recombinant DNA techniques or by enzymatic or chemical cleavage of intact antibodies. Examples of antibody fragments include but are not limited to Fv, Fab, Fab′, Fab′-SH, F(ab)2; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules (e.g., scFv). “Single-chain Fv” also abbreviated as “sFv” or “scFv” are antibody fragments that comprise the VH and VL antibody domains connected into a single polypeptide chain. One or more of the disclosed anti-CLDN18 binding CDRs may be incorporated into a recombinant molecule either covalently or noncovalently to make it an antigen binding protein in the format of chimeric antibodies, diabodies, triabodies, tetrabodies, and polypeptides that contain at least a portion of an immunoglobulin that is sufficient to confer CLDN18 specific binding to the polypeptide.

Thus, in one embodiment, the binding agent comprises at least one CDR as described herein. The binding agent may comprise at least two, three, four, five, or six CDRs as described herein. The binding agent further may comprise at least one variable region domain of an antibody described herein. The variable region domain may be of any size or amino acid composition and will generally comprise at least one CDR sequence responsible for binding to human CLDN18.2, for example, CDR-H1, CDR-H2, CDR-H3 and/or the light chain CDRs specifically described herein and which is adjacent to or in frame with one or more framework sequences.

In general terms, the variable (V) region domain may be any suitable arrangement of immunoglobulin heavy (VH) and/or light (VL) chain variable domains. Thus, for example, the V region domain may be monomeric and be a VH or VL domain, which is capable of independently binding human CLDN18.2 as described below. Alternatively, the V region domain may be dimeric and contain VH-VH, VH-VL, or VL-VL, dimers. The V region dimer comprises at least one VH and at least one VL chain that may be non-covalently associated (hereinafter referred to as FV). If desired, the chains may be covalently coupled either directly, for example via a disulfide bond between the two variable domains, or through a linker, for example, a peptide linker, to form a single-chain Fv (scFV).

A person of skill in the art will recognize that a human IgG immunoglobulin molecule (antibody) consists of four polypeptide chains, composed of two identical 50 kDa γ heavy (H) chains and two identical 25 kDa κ or λ light (L) chains, linked together by inter-chain disulfide bonds. Each heavy chain consists of an N-terminal variable domain (VH) and an Fc region comprising three constant domains (CH1, CH2, CH3), with an additional “hinge region” between CH1 and CH2. Each light chain consists of an N-terminal variable domain (VL) and a single constant domain (CL). Two types of light chains, kappa (κ) and lambda (λ), were also originally defined serologically, and subsequently by protein and gene sequences. Each H2L2 module expresses either two kappa or two lambda light chains to form H2 κ2 or H2 λ2 heterodimers.

The Fc-region of IgG heavy chain molecules also contains a binding epitope, located at the interface between the Fc CH2-CH3 domains for the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) that is responsible for placental transport and IgG half-life. Generally, the variable regions of an antibody (VH and VL domain) are involved in the recognition of an epitope on a target and the Fc fragment functions to confer the biological properties of the antibody. More specifically, the Fc region allows the antibody to be recognized by the immune effectors (including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer or NK cells) expressing Fey receptors, to activate the complement system, and to bind to the FcRn (neonatal Fc receptor).

Human IgG comprises four highly conserved subclasses: IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 that show over 90% homology in amino acid sequence, with subtype-specific differences that affect their binding to accessory molecules and receptors. The subclasses of IgG differ from each other in the sequence of their constant region, particularly in the hinge and upper CH2 domains that are involved in binding to both IgG-Fc receptors (Fc γ receptors) and the complement component C1q. As a result, the different IgG subclasses have different effector functions, both in terms of activating immune effector cells and activating the complement cascade. The types of FcγR-mediated effector cell responses include, but are not limited to, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), the release of cytokines and antigen uptake for presentation.

In addition to isotypic variation, allelic variation is also found among the IgG subclasses. These polymorphic epitopes of immunoglobulins that can differ between individuals and ethnic groups were originally discovered on the basis of serological findings, as immunogenic determinants found on IgG from some individuals but not others. The allotypes are inherited in a codominant Mendelian way, and various sets of combinations are found in African, white, and Oriental populations.

One of the most commonly used sub-classes of the IgG isotype for therapeutic antibodies is an IgG1, which has four well-characterized allotypes. It has been reported that the use of IgG1 sequences comprising alternative allotypes can modify (increase or decrease) the binding affinity for FcRn receptor, and/or increases the stability of the complex formed by the modified antibody and FcRn, thereby affecting the pharmacokinetics of a therapeutic antibody (US2018/0362624, and, J. Immunol. 196(2):607 (2016), Ternant, D et al). Currently, IgG1 mAb therapeutics of the four predominant allotypes are licensed and in the marketplace. It is noted that those of ordinary skill in the art can readily determine a suitable IgG1 CH sequence for use with the VH regions of the invention.

In one aspect, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies provided herein comprise a specific pair of the variable heavy chain and variable light chain sequences in combination with a wild-type human IgG1 heavy chain constant region (CH) and wild-type human kappa light chain (CL) region. For example, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention provides anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies comprising a heavy chain variable region (VH) of the invention in combination with a wild-type human IgG1 constant heavy chain (CH) immunoglobulin sequence selected from the sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 331-334, and a wild-type human immunoglobulin light chain having a light chain variable region of the invention (VL) in combination with an immunoglobulin light chain constant region (CL). In some aspects, the CL region comprises a human kappa light chain region comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 335. FIGS. 11A and 11B provide sequence information for human IgG1 CH domains (FIG. 11A) and a human kappa chain domain (FIG. 11B) suitable for use in combination with the VH and VL sequences of the invention.

In another aspect, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies provided herein comprise a human IgG1 CH region comprising a modified CH that includes point mutations introduced into the sequence to enhance a desirable effector function such as ADCC or ADCP activity or to prolong the half-life or stability of the antibody. In one aspect the invention provides an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody engineered or manufactured in a manner intended to make it “fit-for-purpose” as a cancer immunotherapy due to an enhanced ADCC, ADCP and/or CDC activity. More specifically, one aspect of the invention features an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody characterized by low or no IgG-Fc core fucose. Potential advantages of a non-fucosylated anti-CLDN18.2 therapeutic antibody include the potential of achieving therapeutic efficacy at lower doses, inducing high cellular cytotoxicity against tumor cells that express low levels of CLDN18.2, and triggering high effector function in NK cells expressing CD16a low-affinity Fcγ receptors.

In one aspect, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention features an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody characterized by low or no IgG core fucose (non- or afucosylated) antibodies. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that this aspect of the invention may be a chimeric or humanized anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising variable regions (i.e., VH and VL) regions selected from the pairs of antibody sequences (VH and VL) or the sets of VH and VL CDRs, in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody characterized by low or no IgG core fucose can be a fully human sequence comprising variable regions selected from the pairs of antibody sequences (VH and VL) or the sets of VH and VL CDR in FIG. 2 .

In one aspect, the antibodies of the invention feature non-fucosylated anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies, or anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies characterized by low core IgG fucose levels, comprising a pair of VH and VL sequences selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO: 201 and SEQ ID NO: 202, and SEQ ID NO: 203 and SEQ ID NO: 204, respectively. In any particular antibody, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific variable regions can be in the format of a full-length IgG comprising a human IgG1 constant heavy chain immunoglobulin sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS: 331-334, and a human Ig kappa light chain constant region comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 335.

In an alternative aspect, the invention features a CLDN18.2 antibody comprising point mutations at targeted sites in the Fc region to enhance ADCC, and/or ADCP and/or CDC activities relative to the activity of the same antibody (e.g., same variable VH and VL regions or set of 6 set CDR sequences) comprising a wild-type human IgG1 CH sequence. One of skill in the art will readily appreciate that this aspect of the invention may be a chimeric or humanized anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising variable regions (i.e., VH and VL) regions selected from the pairs of antibody sequences (VH and VL) or the sets of VH and VL CDRs, in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the Fc-engineered anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising point mutations can be a fully human sequence comprising variable regions selected from the pairs of antibody sequences (VH and VL) or the sets of VH and VL CDR in FIG. 2 .

In one aspect, the invention provides Fc-engineered anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies comprising a pair of VH and VL sequences selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 and SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO: 201 and SEQ ID NO: 202, and SEQ ID NO: 203 and SEQ ID NO: 204, respectively. In any particular antibody, the anti-CLDN18.2 specific variable regions can be in the format of a full length IgG comprising a human IgG1 constant heavy chain immunoglobulin sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS: 331-334, and a human Ig kappa light chain constant region comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 335.

For example, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention provides an Fc engineered fully human IgG1 anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising the VH sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 201 combined with an engineered CH region that includes point mutations in the CH1 and/or CH2 and/or CH3 region designed to enhance a desirable biological activity; and a VL sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 202 combined with a human kappa light chain immunoglobulin sequence, such as the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 335. In one aspect, and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention features an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody, referred to herein as mAb NBL-014, comprising a recombinant heavy chain having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 336 and a light chain comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 337 (see FIG. 12 ). In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising a recombinant heavy chain having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 338 and a light chain comprising the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 337, referred to herein as NBL-014 (see FIG. 12 ).

In an alternative aspect, the invention provides an Fc engineered fully human IgG1 anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising the VH sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 203 combined with an engineered CH region that includes point mutations in the CH1 and/or CH2 and/or CH3 region designed to enhance a desirable biological activity; and a VL sequence provided in SEQ ID NO: 204 combined with a human kappa light chain immunoglobulin sequence, such as the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 335.

In an alternative aspect, the invention provides Fc-modified, glycoengineered or protein-engineered (e.g. by the introduction of point mutations in the CH Fc region), anti-CLDN18.2 specific antibodies comprising a VH sequence that includes CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 regions selected from the sets of VH and VL CDRs provided in FIGS. 1 and 2 . More specifically the invention features engineered anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies a VH domain comprising a set of CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3 sequences selected from SEQ ID NO:S 47-49, SEQ ID NOS: 53-55, SEQ ID NOS: 269-271, and SEQ ID NOS: 275-277, combined with an engineered CH region that includes point mutations in the CH1 and/or CH2 and/or CH3 region designed to enhance a desirable biological activity, paired with a VL sequence comprising a set of CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 sequences selected from SEQ ID NOS: 50-52, SEQ ID NOS: 56-58, SEQ ID NOS: 272-274, and SEQ ID NOS: 278-280 respectively, combined with a human kappa light chain immunoglobulin sequence.

The therapeutic value of the antibodies of the disclosure can be enhanced by conjugation to a cytotoxic drug or agent that improves its effectiveness and potency. In some embodiments the antibody is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) comprising a CLDN18.2-specific antibody coupled to a cytotoxic effector agent such as a radioisotope, a drug, or a cytotoxin. Internalization by endocytosis indicates that an antibody is suitable for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) development. Anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies having these properties can also be applied, but are not limited to bispecific, chimeric antigen receptor T or NK cells, cell therapy, and combinational therapies for treating CLDN18.2-associated diseases or disorders.

The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies of the disclosure can also be used for developing antibody-based immunotherapeutics that rely on CLDN18.2-specific binding to direct patient effector cells (e.g., T cells or NK cells) to tumors including bispecific T cell engaging antibodies, or bispecific molecules that redirect NK cells, or cell therapies, such as CAR-T therapy.

Methods of Producing Antibodies

Many suitable methods can be applied for antibody generation and are known to those of skill in the art. For example, a recipient may be immunized with cells that express claudin 18.2, soluble recombinant claudin 18.2 protein, or a fragment or a peptide conjugated with a carrier protein thereof. Any suitable method known to those of skill in the art may be used to elicit an antibody with desired biologic properties to inhibit claudin 18.2. Such methods can include a method of immunization that includes the use of adjuvants, other immune stimulants, repeat booster immunizations, and the use of one or more immunization routes.

Any suitable source of claudin 18.2 can be used as the immunogen for the generation of the non-human antibody or human antibody, specific for claudin 18.2 of the compositions and methods disclosed herein. Such forms include, but are not limited to cells expressing claudin 18.2 (endogenous' cells or cells that are transfected with claudin 18.2 gene) whole protein, peptide(s), and epitopes, generated through recombinant, synthetic, chemical or enzymatic degradation means known in the art.

Different forms of the antigens may be used to generate the antibody that is sufficient to generate a biologically active antibody. Thus, the eliciting antigen may be a single epitope, multiple epitopes, or the entire protein alone or in combination with one or more immunogenicity enhancing agents. In some cases, the eliciting antigen is an isolated full-length protein, a cell surface protein (e.g., immunizing with cells transfected with at least a portion of the antigen), or a soluble protein (e.g., immunizing with only the extracellular domain portion of the protein).

In some embodiments, the antigen is produced in a genetically modified cell. The DNA encoding the antigen may be genomic or non-genomic (e.g., cDNA), and may encode at least a portion of the extracellular domain. As used herein, the term “portion” refers to the minimal number of amino acids or nucleic acids, as appropriate, to constitute an immunogenic epitope of the antigen of interest. Any genetic vectors suitable for transformation of the cells of interest may be employed, including, but not limited to adenoviral vectors, plasmids, and non-viral vectors, such as cationic lipids.

It is desirable to prepare monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from various mammalian hosts, such as mice, rodents, primates, humans, etc. Description of techniques for preparing such monoclonal antibodies may be found in, e.g., Sties et al. (eds.) BASIC AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY (4^(th) ed.) Lance Medical Publication, Los Altos, Calif., and references cited therein; Harlow and Lane (1988) ANTIBODIES: A LABORATORY MANUAL CSH Press; Goding (1986) MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE (2D ed) Academic Press, New York, N.Y. Typically, spleen cells from an animal immunized with a desired antigen are immortalized, commonly by fusion with a myeloma cell. See Kohler and Milstein (196) Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511-519. Alternative methods of immortalization include transformation with Epstein Barr Virus, oncogene, or retroviruses, or other methods known in the art. See. e.g., Doyle et al. (eds. 1994 and periodic supplements) CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE: LABORATORY PROCEDURES, John Wiley and Sons, New York, N.Y. Colonies arising from single immortalized cells are screened for production of antibodies of the desired specificity and affinity for the antigen, and yield of the monoclonal antibodies produced by such cells may be enhanced by various techniques, including injection into the peritoneal cavity of a vertebrate host. Alternatively, one may isolate DNA sequences which encode a monoclonal antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof by screening a DNA library from human B cells according, e.g., to the general protocol outlined by Huse et al. (1989) Science 246: 1275-1281. Thus, monoclonal antibodies may be obtained by a variety of techniques familiar to researchers skilled in the art.

Other suitable techniques involve selection of libraries of antibodies in phage, yeast, virus or similar vector. See e.g., Huse et al. supra; and Ward et al. (1989) Nature 341:544-546. The polypeptides and antibodies of the present invention may be used with or without modification, including chimeric or humanized antibodies. Frequently, the polypeptides and antibodies will be labeled by joining, either covalently or non-covalently, a substance which provides for a detectable signal. A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known and are reported extensively in both the scientific and patent literature. Suitable labels include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent moieties, chemiluminescent moieties, magnetic particles, and the like. Patents teaching the use of such labels include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,837; 3,850,752; 3,9396,345; 4,277,437; 4,275,149; and 4,366,241. Also, recombinant immunoglobulins may be produced, see Cabilly U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; and Queen et al. (1989) Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 86: 10029-10023; or made in transgenic mice, see Nils Lonberg et al. (1994), Nature 368:856-859; and Mendez et al. (1997) Nature Genetics 15: 146-156; TRANSGENIC ANIMALS AND METHODS OF USE (WO2012US62118A), Medarex, Trianni, Abgenix, Ablexis, OminiAb, Harbour and other technologies.

In some embodiments, the ability of the produced antibody to bind an antigen (e.g., CLDN18) can be assessed using standard binding assays, such as ELISA, Western Blot, Immunofluorescent and flow cytometric analysis. In some aspects, the produced antibody may also be assessed for its ability to mediate the killing of target cells (e.g. tumor cells) expressing CLDN18 (e.g., antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADCP) and/or inhibition of cell proliferation).

The antibody composition prepared from the cells can be purified using, for example, hydroxylapatite chromatography, gel electrophoresis, dialysis, and affinity chromatography, with affinity chromatography being a typical purification technique. The suitability of protein A as an affinity ligand depends on the species and isotype of any immunoglobulin Fc domain that is present in the antibody. Protein A can be used to purify antibodies that are based on human gamma1, gamma2, or gamma4 heavy chains (see, e.g., Lindmark et al., 1983 J. Immunol. Meth. 62:1-13). Protein G is recommended for all mouse isotypes and for human gamma3 (see, e.g., Guss et al., 1986 EMBO J. 5:1567-1575). A matrix to which an affinity ligand is attached is most often agarose, but other matrices are available. Mechanically stable matrices such as controlled pore glass or poly(styrenedivinyl)benzene allow for faster flow rates and shorter processing times than can be achieved with agarose. Where the antibody comprises a CH3 domain, the Bakerbond ABX™ resin (J. T. Baker, Phillipsburg, N.J.) is useful for purification. Other techniques for protein purification such as fractionation on an ion-exchange column, ethanol precipitation, reverse phase HPLC, chromatography on silica, chromatography on heparin SEPHAROSE™ chromatography on an anion or cation exchange resin (such as a polyaspartic acid column), chromatofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and ammonium sulfate precipitation are also available depending on the antibody to be recovered.

Following any preliminary purification step(s), the mixture comprising the antibody of interest and contaminants may be subjected to low pH hydrophobic interaction chromatography using an elution buffer at a pH between about 2.5-4.5, typically performed at low salt concentrations (e.g., from about 0-0.25M salt).

Also included are nucleic acids that hybridize under low, moderate, and high stringency conditions, as defined herein, to all or a portion (e.g., the portion encoding the variable region) of the nucleotide sequence represented by isolated polynucleotide sequence(s) that encode an antibody or antibody fragment of the present disclosure. The hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acid is typically at least 15 (e.g., 20, 25, 30 or 50) nucleotides in length. The hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acid is at least 80%, e.g., at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 98%, identical to the sequence of a portion or all of a nucleic acid encoding an anti-CLDN18 polypeptide (e.g., a heavy chain or light chain variable region), or its complement. Hybridizing nucleic acids of the type described herein can be used, for example, as a cloning probe, a primer, e.g., a PCR primer, or a diagnostic probe.

Polynucleotides, Vectors, and Host Cells

Other embodiments encompass isolated polynucleotides that comprise a sequence encoding an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides, and recombinant techniques for production of the antibody. The isolated polynucleotides can encode any desired form of the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody including, for example, full-length monoclonal antibodies, Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)₂, and Fv fragments, diabodies, linear antibodies, single-chain antibody molecules, and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.

Some embodiments include isolated polynucleotides comprising sequences that encode the heavy chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 211, 215, 217, or 219. Some embodiments include isolated polynucleotides comprising sequences that encode the light chain variable region of an antibody or antibody fragment having the amino acid sequence of any of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 216, 218, or 220.

In an embodiment, the isolated polynucleotide sequence(s) encodes an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequences of:

-   -   (a) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 2;     -   (b) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4;     -   (c) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 6;     -   (d) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   (e) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 10;     -   (f) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 12;     -   (g) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 13 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 14;     -   (h) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 15 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 16;     -   (i) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 17 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 18;     -   (j) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 19 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 20;     -   (k) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 21 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 22;     -   (l) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 23 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 24;     -   (m) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 25 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 26;     -   (n) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 27 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 28;     -   (o) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 29 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 30;     -   (p) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 31 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 32;     -   (q) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 33 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 34;     -   (r) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 35 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 36;     -   (s) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 37 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 38;     -   (t) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 39 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 40;     -   (u) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 41 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 42;     -   (v) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 43 and         a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 44; or     -   (w) and a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 45         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 46.

In another embodiment, the isolated polynucleotide sequence(s) encodes an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequences of:

(aa) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 185 and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 186;

-   -   (bb) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 187         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 188;     -   (cc) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 189         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 190;     -   (dd) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 191         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 192;     -   (ee) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 193         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 194;     -   (ff) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 195         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 196;     -   (gg) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 197         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 198;     -   (hh) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 199         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 200;     -   (ii) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 201         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 202;     -   (jj) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 203         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 204;     -   (kk) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 205         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 206;     -   (ll) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 207         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 208;     -   (mm) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 209         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 210;     -   (nn) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 211         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 212;     -   (oo) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 215         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 216;     -   (pp) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 217         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 218;         or     -   (qq) a variable heavy chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 219         and a variable light chain sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 220.

In an alternative embodiment, the isolated polynucleotide sequence(s) encodes an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequences of:

-   -   (aa) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 185 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 186;     -   (bb) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 187 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 188;     -   (cc) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 189 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 190;     -   (dd) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 191 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 192;     -   (ee) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 193 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 194;     -   (ff) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 195 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 196;     -   (gg) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 197 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 198;     -   (hh) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 199 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 200;     -   (ii) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 201 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 202;     -   (jj) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 203 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 204;     -   (kk) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 205 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 206;     -   (ll) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 207 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 208;     -   (mm) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 209 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 210;     -   (nn) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 211 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 212;     -   (oo) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 215 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 216;     -   (pp) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 217 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 218; or     -   (qq) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 219 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 220.

In an alternative embodiment, the isolated polynucleotide sequence(s) encodes an antibody or antibody fragment having a light chain and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequences of:

-   -   (a) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2;     -   (b) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 3 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 4;     -   (c) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 5 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 6;     -   (d) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 7 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   (e) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 9 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10;     -   (f) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 11 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 12;     -   (g) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 13 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 14;     -   (h) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 15 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 16;     -   (i) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 17 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 18;     -   (j) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 19 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 20;     -   (k) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 21 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 22;     -   (k) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 23 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 24;     -   (m) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 25 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 26;     -   (n) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 27 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 28;     -   (o) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 29 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 30;     -   (p) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 31 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 32;     -   (q) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 33 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 34;     -   (r) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 35 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 36;     -   (s) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 37 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 38;     -   (t) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 39 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 40;     -   (u) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 41 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 42;     -   (v) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 43 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 44; or     -   (w) a variable heavy chain sequence that is 90%, 95%, or 99%         identical to SEQ ID NO: 45 and a variable light chain sequence         that is 90%, 95%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO: 46.

The polynucleotide(s) that comprise a sequence encoding an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof can be fused to one or more regulatory or control sequence, as known in the art, and can be contained in suitable expression vectors or host cells as known in the art. Each of the polynucleotide molecules encoding the heavy or light chain variable domains can be independently fused to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a constant domain, such as a human constant domain, enabling the production of intact antibodies. Alternatively, polynucleotides, or portions thereof, can be fused together, providing a template for production of a single-chain antibody.

For recombinant production, a polynucleotide encoding the antibody is inserted into a replicable vector for cloning (amplification of the DNA) or for expression. Many suitable vectors for expressing the recombinant antibody are available. The vector components generally include but are not limited to, one or more of the following: a signal sequence, an origin of replication, one or more marker genes, an enhancer element, a promoter, and a transcription termination sequence.

The anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies or antibody fragments thereof can also be produced as fusion polypeptides, in which the antibody or fragment is fused with a heterologous polypeptide, such as a signal sequence or other polypeptide having a specific cleavage site at the amino terminus of the mature protein or polypeptide. The heterologous signal sequence selected is typically one that is recognized and processed (i.e., cleaved by a signal peptidase) by the host cell. For prokaryotic host cells that do not recognize and process the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody signal sequence, the signal sequence can be substituted by a prokaryotic signal sequence. The signal sequence can be, for example, alkaline phosphatase, penicillinase, lipoprotein, heat-stable enterotoxin II leaders, and the like. For yeast secretion, the native signal sequence can be substituted, for example, with a leader sequence obtained from yeast invertase alpha-factor (including Saccharomyces and Kluyveromyces α-factor leaders), acid phosphatase, C. albicans glucoamylase, or the signal described in WO90/13646. In mammalian cells, mammalian signal sequences as well as viral secretory leaders, for example, the herpes simplex gD signal, can be used. The DNA for such precursor region is ligated in reading frame to DNA encoding the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody.

Expression and cloning vectors contain a nucleic acid sequence that enables the vector to replicate in one or more selected host cells. Generally, in cloning vectors, this sequence is one that enables the vector to replicate independently of the host chromosomal DNA, and includes origins of replication or autonomously replicating sequences. Such sequences are well known for a variety of bacteria, yeast, and viruses. The origin of replication from the plasmid pBR322 is suitable for most Gram-negative bacteria, the 2-υ plasmid origin is suitable for yeast, and various viral origins (SV40, polyoma, adenovirus, VSV, and BPV) are useful for cloning vectors in mammalian cells. Generally, the origin of replication component is not needed for mammalian expression vectors (the SV40 origin may typically be used only because it contains the early promoter).

Expression and cloning vectors may contain a gene that encodes a selectable marker to facilitate identification of expression. Typical selectable marker genes encode proteins that confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxins, e.g., ampicillin, neomycin, methotrexate, or tetracycline, or alternatively, are complement auxotrophic deficiencies, or in other alternatives supply specific nutrients that are not present in complex media, e.g., the gene encoding D-alanine racemase for Bacilli.

Antibody-Based Immunotherapy

The goal of antibody-based immunotherapy using tumor-antigen-targeting antibodies is to eliminate cancer cells without harming normal tissue. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of antibody-based immunotherapies in oncology vary depending in large part on the intended mechanism of action, the relevant effector function of the immune system and the nature of the tumor-associated target antigen. The optimal target antigen should be accessible and expressed homogenously and exclusively on the surface of cancer cells. If the intended mechanism of action is antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC), then in order to maximize antibody Fc region interactions with components of the complement system or immune effector cells, the antigen-mAb complex should not be rapidly internalized.

A critical feature of monoclonal antibodies is their high specificity and their ability to either directly reduce proliferation and/or induce apoptosis in target tumor cells, or to mark them for immune-effector mediated cell killing (complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)) (Kubota, T. et al. (2009) Cancer Sci. 100 (9), 1566-1572). Conjugation to cytotoxic drugs can expand the utility of monoclonal antibodies and improve their potency and effectiveness (Goldmacher, V. S. et al. (2011) Ther. Deliv. 2 (3), 397-416; Sievers, E. L. (2013) Annu. Rev. Med. 64, 15-29).

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) describes the cell-killing ability of effector cells, which preferably requires the target cell being marked by an antibody. Effector cells may include B cells, T cells, killer cells, NK cells, macrophages, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, polymorphonuclear cells, granulocytes, mast cells, and/or basophils; more specifically effector cells are T cells or NK cells. In certain aspects, ADCC occurs when antibodies bind to antigens on tumor cells, and the antibody Fc domains engage Fc receptors (FcR) on the surface of immune effector cells. Several families of Fc receptors have been identified, and specific cell populations characteristically express defined Fc receptors. ADCC can be viewed as a mechanism to directly induce a variable degree of immediate tumor destruction that leads to antigen presentation and the induction of tumor-directed T-cell responses. Preferably, in vivo induction of ADCC will lead to tumor-directed T-cell responses and host-derived antibody responses.

More specifically, there are six structurally distinct types of human Fcγ receptors (FcγRI or CD64, FcγRIIa/CD32a, FcγRIIb/CD32b, FcγRIIc/CD32c, FcγRIIIa/CD16a, and FcγRIIIb/CD16b) expressed on leukocytes of both the myeloid and lymphoid lineage. Fcγ receptors are divided into two types: activating receptors (CD64, CD32a, CD32c, CD16a, and CD16b) that lead to immune cell activation through immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAM) on cytosolic tails or on co-receptor molecules, and an inhibitory receptor (CD32b) that signals through immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIM).

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FCGR2A (H131R) and FCGR3A (V158F) are associated with improved outcomes attributed to a higher antibody binding affinity for human IgG1 and IgG2 therapeutic antibodies which results in increased ADCC activity (Vargas, F. A. et al, Cancer Cell 33: 649-663 (2018), Musolino, A. et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 26: 1789-1796 (2008), Zhang, W. et al, J. Clin. Oncol. 25:3712-3718 (2007), Nordstrom, J. L. et al, Breast Cancer Res. 13:R123 (2011)). The activating CD16A FcγR occurs in two variants, or alleles, with high (158V) or low (158F) affinity for the Fc domain of IgG1. A majority (approximately 85%) of the population carries the 158F genotype, either in the homozygous form or as heterozygous with 158V. Thus, FcgR genotypes most frequently associated with greater beneficial responses occur in a minority of the population. This provides a strong rationale for engineering the Fc domain of therapeutic antibodies developed for the treatment of cancer to better interact with low-binding alleles of activating FcγRs to expand, without regard to FcγR genotype, with the goal of developing therapeutics capable of conferring a benefit to a greater percentage of patients.

A critical step in the activation of cytotoxic cells is the binding of mAbs to FcγRIIIa (CD16A) on immune effector cells, and the strength of this interaction is determined by antibody isotype, the glycosylation pattern of the antibody Fc region and FcγRIIIa polymorphisms. Numerous publications have reported findings that demonstrate the role of FcγR-mediated effector function in antibody-based cancer therapies derived from clinical studies. The study results indicate an association between clinical response (e.g., antibody efficacy) and specific alloforms of activating human FcγRs. Patients that carry the 158F allele have been reported to show diminished clinical responses to certain therapeutic antibodies, including trastuzumab, rituximab, cetuximab, infliximab and ipilimumab and other therapeutic antibodies that utilize ADCC as a major mechanism of action. Antibodies engineered to have improved FcgR binding profiles have been reported to drive superior anti-tumor responses and confer greater clinical benefit.

The discovery of activating and inhibitory FcγRs resulted in translational research efforts focused on designing therapeutic antibodies that were “fit for purpose” based on having FcγR binding activities characterized by an activating/inhibiting (A:I) ratio designed to activate immune effector cells to perform particular functions. Immunotherapy of cancer with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) promotes the elimination of tumor cells by a variety of mechanisms including ADCC, ADCP and/or CDC activities. In practice, the therapeutic activity of several approved mAbs depends on the binding of the Fcγ regions to low-affinity Fcγ receptors expressed on effector cells.

Several publications report the successful use of protein engineering strategies to design variant human IgG1 Fc domains (CH regions) with optimized FcgR binding profiles and activating/inhibiting (A:I) ratios suitable to optimize cell-mediated effector functions. In particular, efforts have focused on increasing the affinity of the Fc domain for the low-affinity receptor FcγIIIa. A number of mutations within the Fc domain have been identified that either directly or indirectly enhance binding of Fc receptors and as a result significantly enhance cellular cytotoxicity (Lazar, G. A. PNAS 103:4005-4010 (2006), Shields, R. L. et al, J. Biol. Chem. 276:6591-6604 (2001) Stewart, R. et al., Protein Engineering Design and Selection 24: 671-678 (2011)). Researchers at Genentech identified the mutations S239D/A330L/I332E, MedImmune identified the mutation F243L (Stewart et al) and Xencor identified G236A (Richards, J. O. et al, Mol. Cancer Ther. 7:2517-2575 (2008)).

Several different companies, including, Xencor, Applied Molecular Evolution, Medimmune, Genentech and Macrogenics have described antibody variants, comprising at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, wherein the variant Fc region binds FcγRIIIA and/or FcγRIIA with a greater affinity, relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. Xencor has developed the Xmab platform technology and published results of IgG1 Fc variants comprising S239D/I332E point mutations and S239D/A330L/I332E as optimized Fc variants with desirable A:I ratios. Applied Molecular Evolution has identified IgG variants comprising P247I and A339Q point mutations. Macrogenics has described variant human IgG1 Fc regions comprising mutations at V305I, F243L, R292P, Y300L, and P396L (variant 18) (Stavenhagen, J. B. et al, Cancer Res. 67:8882-8990 (2007)) or L235V, F243L, R292P, Y300L, and P396L (Nordstrom, J. L. et al, Breast Cancer Res. 13:R123 (2011)).

Nordstrom et al. reported that response to trastuzumab (HERCEPTIN™) in metastatic breast cancer correlates with the expression of the high binding variant (158V) of the activating Fcγ receptor CD16A. Using a chimeric anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody MGAH22 (with specificity and affinity similar to trastuzumab) that comprised a human IgG1 Fc domain engineered for increased binding to both alleles of human CD16A, Nordstrom demonstrated that the engineered Fc domain conferred enhanced ADCC against all HER2-positive tumor cells tested, including cells resistant to trastuzumab's anti-proliferative activity or expressing low HER2 levels. The greatest improvement occurs with effector cells isolated from donors homozygous or heterozygous for CD16A-158F, the low-binding allele.

The Fc variations incorporated into MGHA22 were incorporated into the clinical-stage antibody product candidate margetuximab which has been engineered to have an increased ability to bind to the activating Fc-γ receptor (CD16A) and a decreased ability to bind to the Fc-γ inhibitory receptor CD32B on immune effector cells. Macrogenics has recently published preliminary data from the first randomized Phase 3 study that was designed to examine the potential benefit of Fc modification and the role of Fc-gamma receptor genotypes on anti-HER2 antibody efficacy. The SOPHIA study (NCT02492711) is a randomized, open-label Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating margetuximab plus chemotherapy compared to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. The study met its first sequential primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). The median PFS of patients treated with margetuximab and chemotherapy was 5.8 months compared to 4.9 months in patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. At the time of the primary PFS analysis, overall survival (OS) data based on 158 events were immature. The median OS at that time was prolonged by 1.7 months in patients treated with margetuximab and chemotherapy compared to patients treated with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. For the exploratory subpopulation of patients carrying the CD16A 158F allele, the median OS was prolonged by 6.8 months in the margetuximab arm compared to the trastuzumab arm (Macrogenics Press Release).

Glycoengineering strategies have also been used to develop therapeutic antibodies with optimized effector functions tailored to the treatment of cancer. It is known that FcγRs interact with the carbohydrates on the CH2 domain and that the composition of these glycans has a substantial effect on effector function activity. A highly conserved glycan at position 297 in the Fc-region infers structural changes to the Fc-region required for binding to the Fey receptor. Subtle differences in the glycan composition at this site can affect the Fc-structure and may also alter the interaction with Fcγ R by direct contact. Perhaps the best example of this is non-fucosylated antibodies that exhibit increased binding to CD16A and exhibit greatly enhanced ADCC activity (Niwa, R et al, Clin. Cancer Res. 10:6248-6255 (2004), Ferrara, C. et al, J. Biol. Chem 281:5032-5036 (2006)).

The efficacy of therapeutic antibodies is critically dependent on appropriate posttranslational modifications. In particular, glycosylation of the antibody Fc is essential for Fc receptor-mediated activity. Among the effector functions of antibody therapeutics, ADCC has been identified clinically as an important mechanism of anti-cancer antibodies. It is well known in the art that the absence of IgG-Fc core fucose vastly increases binding to Fcγ RIIa (CD16a) and results in higher ADCC potency (e.g., lower EC50), a finding that has been successfully used to improve the efficacy of therapeutic antibodies. Glycoengineering strategies include producing antibodies under conditions that will provide low or no fucosylation (e.g., non-fucosylated mAb) in order to enhance ADCC by increasing FcGRIIIa binding.

One of skill in the art will acknowledge that BioWa/Kyowa Hakko Kirin and GlycArt/Roche, have each developed proprietary cell lines that yield defucosylated antibodies. To achieve this result, BioWa/Kyowa Kirin Hakko established α-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) enzyme knockout Chinese hamster ovary cell line (POTELLIGENT® technology), while GlycArt/Roche chose to over-express heterologous β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III in antibody-producing cells (GlycoMab™ technology, U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,684).

Glycoengineered antibodies with improved ADCC activities have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are currently marketed in the United States, including mogamulizumab (POTELIGEO™), obinutuzumab (GAZYVA™) and benralizumab (FASENRA™). Mogamulizumab is an afucosylated anti-CCR4 antibody that is produced in a cell line with a mutation in the FUT8 (α-1,6-fucosyltransferase) gene using the POTELLIGENT™ technology platform developed by Biowa. In mammals, most core-fucosylation on N-glycans is formed by α-1,6 linkage. FUT8 is the only α-1,6 fucosyltransferase that catalyzes the transfer of fucose residues from GDP-fucose to the innermost GlcNAc of the tri-mannosyl core structure via the α-1,6 linkage. Benralizumab is an anti-IL5 receptor antibody that is also manufactured using the POTELLIGENT™ technology platform and has been reported to be capable of inducing a >1000-fold amplification of antibody-dependent cell mediated ADCC (Pelaia, C et al, BioMed Research Int., Article ID 4839230 (2018).

Obinutuzumab is a type II anti-CD20 mAb characterized by having a low fucose content as a consequence of the addition of a B-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GnIII) gene in the production cell line (Glycart GLYCOMAB™ technology). The modification has the effect of adding bisecting N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNac) to the N-glycan structures, the presence of which interferes with fucosylation leading to the production of highly enriched bisected non-fucosylated glycosylation variants. The glycoengineering strategy used to manufacture obinutuzumab confers a unique mechanism of action that relies on enhanced ADCC and ADCP, with reduced reliance on the primary mechanism of action used by two other anti-CD20 antibodies (Rituximab and ofatumumab) that rely primarily on CDC (Tobinai, K et al, Adv. Ther. 34(2): 324-356 (2017)). A person skilled in the art will also recognize that it is possible to produce antibodies with low fucose content by using a decoy substrate of glycosyltransferases, such as 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-1-fucose (2FF,) or a fucosyltransferase inhibitor such as 2F-peracetyl-fucose to cause reduced incorporation of fucose in the glycan of antibodies expressed in mammalian cells (Dekkers, G, et al, Scientific Reports 6, article number 36964 (2016)). It has been reported that antibodies produced using fucosyltransferase inhibitor showed a significant decrease in the relative percentage of fucosylated glycan species (G0f, G1f, and G2f) and that the percentage of fucosylation can be decreased from 86% to 19% in the presence of the inhibitor (Ho, D. et al. Fucosylation of a Therapeutic Antibody: Effects on Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) Potency and Efficacy, Bioprocess International, Apr. 12, 2016).

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) is another cell-killing method that can be directed by antibodies. IgM is the most effective isotype for complement activation, but IgG1 and IgG3 are also both very effective at directing CDC via the classical complement activation pathway.

In some aspects, antibodies described herein are used in combination with or are conjugated to, a therapeutic moiety or agent, such as a cytotoxin, a drug, or a radioisotope. In certain aspects, an antibody described herein is used in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent. In certain aspects, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprises an antibody described herein conjugated (e.g., covalently attached) to a therapeutic moiety or agent.

Examples of therapeutic agents that may be used in conjugation with an antibody, include antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, fludarabin, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g., mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) and lomustine (CCNU), cyclophosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol, streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP) cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) and doxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin), bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine). In certain aspects, the therapeutic agent is a cytotoxic agent or a radiotoxic agent. In another aspect, the therapeutic agent is a photosensitizing agent, suitable for use in photodynamic therapy, such as porfimer sodium. In some aspects, the therapeutic agent is an immunosuppressant. In some aspects, the therapeutic agent is GM-CSF. In some aspects, the therapeutic agent is doxorubicin, cisplatin, bleomycin, sulfate, carmustine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide or ricin A.

Examples of a cytotoxin or cytotoxic agent include any agent that is detrimental to and, in particular, kills cells, such as taxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine, mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone, mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids, procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogs or homologs thereof.

In some aspects, an antibody described herein can be conjugated to a radioisotope, such as iodine-131, yttrium-90 or indium-111, to generate cytotoxic radiopharmaceuticals for treating a CLD18-related disorder, such as cancer.

Techniques for conjugating a therapeutic moiety to antibodies are well known to those of skill in the art, see, e.g., Arnon et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies For Immunotargeting Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies And Cancer Therapy, Reisfeld et al. (eds.), pp. 243-56 (Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1985); Hellstrom et al., “Antibodies For Drug Delivery”, in Controlled Drug Delivery (2nd Ed.), Robinson et al. (eds.), pp. 623-53 (Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1987); Thorpe, “Antibody Carriers Of Cytotoxic Agents In Cancer Therapy: A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies '84: Biological And Clinical Applications, Pinchera et al. (eds.), pp. 475-506 (1985); “Analysis, Results, And Future Prospective Of The Therapeutic Use Of Radiolabeled Antibody In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal Antibodies For Cancer Detection And Therapy, Baldwin et al. (eds.), pp. 303-16 (Academic Press 1985), and Thorpe et al., “The Preparation And Cytotoxic Properties Of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates”, Immunol. Rev., 62: 119-58 (1982).

In some embodiments, ADCs are designed to kill cancer cells in a target-dependent manner. The first step in this process is the binding of the antibody to its antigen. Upon ADC binding, the entire antigen-ADC complex is internalized and the cytotoxic payload is released into the tumor cell resulting in cell death. Factors that influence the therapeutic index for ADCs include the tumor specificity of the targeting antibody, the expression level of the tumor target antigen, the cytotoxic drug and the linker (Panowksi, S. et al. (2014) MAbs 6 (1), 34-45). If the intended mechanism of action of a therapeutic antibody is downregulation of the tumor-associated antigen, or if the antibody is an ADC designed to deliver a toxin into the cancer cell then internalization is a desirable characteristic of the antibody used to deliver the toxic payload to the targeted tumor cell.

In some aspects, an ADC comprises any agent that exerts a therapeutic effect on cancer cells and an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or derivative thereof as described herein. Conjugation of the drug does not alter or significantly alter the binding characteristics, in particular, the specificity of the antibody. In certain aspects, the drug is a cytotoxic or cytostatic agent (e.g., any agent that is detrimental to and/or kills cancer cells). Examples of classes of such cytotoxic agents include anti-tubulin agents, DNA minor groove binders (e.g., enediynes and lexitropsins), DNA replication inhibitors, alkylating agents (e.g., platinum complexes such as cis-platin, mono(platinum), bis(platinum) and tri-nuclear platinum complexes and carboplatin), anthracyclines, antibiotics, antifolates, antimetabolites, chemotherapy sensitizers, duocarmycins, etoposides, fluorinated pyrimidines, ionophores, nitrosoureas, platinols, pre-forming compounds, purine antimetabolites, puromycins, radiation sensitizers, steroids, taxanes (e.g., paclitaxel and docetaxel), topoisomerase inhibitors, vinca alkaloids, or the like. Additional examples of such cytotoxic agents are described in US Publication No. 2018/0117174.

The generation of antibody-drug conjugates can be accomplished by any technique known to the skilled artisan. Antibody-drug conjugates can be prepared by binding the drug to an antibody in accordance with a conventional technique. An antibody and a drug may be directly bound to each other via their own linker groups or indirectly via a linker or other substance. Examples of linkers that may be used in forming an ADC are described in US Publication No. 2018/0117174.

One example of an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody being used in immunotherapy is iMAb362, a chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody, specific for an epitope in the first extracellular domain of CLDN18.2. iMAb362, its murine parental antibody, and other anti-CLDN18-specific antibodies are disclosed in patents and patent applications belonging to the WO2007/059997, WO2014/075788, and WO2016/166122 patent families.

Preclinically, iMAb362 was shown to inhibit tumor growth and to kill cancer cells by both indirect (complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) and direct (antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects) mechanisms of action. Astellas Pharma has published reports indicating that preclinical characterization of iMAb362 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising the antimitotic drug monomethyl auristatin E, with a valine-citrulline linker (iMAb-vcMMAE) is ongoing (Kreuzberg, M et al, Annals of Oncology 28(5) v122-v141, abstract 377P, WO2016/165762).

The phase IIb FAST trial enrolled patients with advanced or recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (NCT01630083). Eligibility for enrollment required patients to have CLDN18.2-positive tumors (i.e., 2⁺/3⁺ intensity in ≥40% of tumor cells by immunohistochemistry). The trial evaluated the role of iMAb362 in combination with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in a first-line setting. According to the final results, the addition of antibody iMAB362 to chemotherapy (EOX, epirubicin, oxaliplatin and capecitabine) increased the median overall survival by five months (8.4 vs 13.2 months, P=0.0001) in patients with advanced gastric, esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (Schuler, M et al., Annals of Oncology, 27 (6): vi207-vi242, abstract 6140 (2016)). The combination therapy also significantly improved progression-free survival and response rate. Reports indicate that when the results are stratified by CLDN18.2 expression levels, the best outcomes were seen among the high expressers (≥2⁺ intensity in ≥70%) whose median overall survival was 9.0 months vs. 16.7 months, P<0.0005). The results confirm that the addition of an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody to first-line chemotherapy provides a clinically relevant benefit in patients with advanced/recurrent gastric cancer.

Compositions and Methods of Treatment

The disclosure also provides compositions including, for example, pharmaceutical compositions that comprise an anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment thereof. Such compositions have numerous therapeutic uses for the treatment of diseases or disorders (e.g., diseases or disorders involving cells expressing CLDN18.2). In some aspects, the compositions described herein are administered to patients, e.g., in vivo, to treat or prevent a disease associated with dysregulated expression of CLDN18.2. Preferred patients include human patients having an epithelial cell-derived primary or metastatic cancer.

The antibodies can be administered either alone or in combination with other compositions that are useful for treating an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder or an autoimmune disease. In some embodiments, compositions including, for example, pharmaceutical compositions, comprising the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody can further comprise a therapeutic agent, either conjugated or unconjugated to the anti-CLDN18.2 antibody or antibody fragment.

In some aspects, the present invention provides a composition, e.g., a pharmaceutical composition, containing one or more antibodies of the present invention. The pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents as well as any other known adjuvants and excipients in accordance with conventional techniques such as those disclosed in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 19th Edition, Gennaro, Ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 1995. In some aspects, the pharmaceutical composition is administered to a subject to treat cancer.

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible. Preferably, the carrier is suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, parenteral, spinal or epidermal administration (e.g., by injection or infusion). Depending on the route of administration, the active compound, i.e., antibody, bispecific and multispecific molecule, may be coated in a material to protect the compound from the action of acids and other natural conditions that may inactivate the compound

As used herein, “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like that are physiologically compatible. Preferably, the carrier is suitable for intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, parenteral, spinal or epidermal administration (e.g., by injection or infusion). Depending on the route of administration, the active compound, i.e., antibody, bispecific and multispecific molecule, may be coated in a material to protect the compound from the action of acids and other natural conditions that may inactivate the compound.

Typically, compositions for administration by injection are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the pharmaceutical can also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such as lignocaine to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of the active agent. Where the pharmaceutical is to be administered by infusion, it can be dispensed with an infusion bottle containing sterile pharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where the pharmaceutical is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients can be mixed prior to administration.

A composition of the present invention can be administered by a variety of methods known in the art. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the route and/or mode of administration will vary depending upon the desired results. The active compounds can be prepared with carriers that will protect the compound against rapid releases, such as a controlled release formulation, including implants, transdermal patches, and microencapsulated delivery systems. Biodegradable, biocompatible polymers can be used, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters, and polylactic acid. Methods for the preparation of such formulations are generally known to those skilled in the art. See, e.g., Sustained and Controlled Release Drug Delivery Systems, J. R. Robinson, ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1978.

Dosage levels of the active ingredients in the pharmaceutical compositions may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active ingredient which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular subject, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the subject. The selected dosage level will depend upon a variety of pharmacokinetic factors including the activity of the particular compositions of the present invention employed, the route of administration, the time of administration, the rate of excretion of the particular compound being employed, the duration of the treatment, other drugs, compounds and/or materials used in combination with the particular compositions employed, the age, sex, weight, condition, general health and prior medical history of the patient being treated, and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The pharmaceutical compositions described herein may be administered in effective amounts. An “effective amount” refers to the amount which achieves a desired reaction or the desired effect alone or together with further doses. In the case of treatment of a particular disease or of a particular condition, the desired reaction preferably relates to inhibition of the course of the disease. This comprises slowing down the progress of the disease and, in particular, interrupting or reversing the progress of the disease.

In some aspects, the treatment of cancer represents a field where combination strategies are especially desirable since frequently the combined action of two, three, four or even more cancer drugs/therapies generates synergistic effects which are considerably stronger than the impact of a monotherapeutic approach. The agents and compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions) provided herein may be used alone or in combination with conventional therapeutic regimens such as surgery, irradiation, chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation (autologous, syngeneic, allogeneic or unrelated). The agents and compositions may also be used in combination with one or more of cytokines, chemokines, costimulatory molecules, or fusion proteins, bacterial treatments, kinase inhibitors, toll-like receptors, angiogenesis inhibitors, small molecule targeted therapy drugs, virus-based vaccines, multi-epitope strategies, adoptive T cell transfer, and peptide-based target therapies. See U.S. Pat. No. 10,093,736. Thus, in another embodiment of the present invention, a cancer treatment may be effectively combined with various other drugs.

In some aspects, the agents and compositions described herein are administered to patients, e.g., in vivo, to treat or prevent a variety of disorders such as those described herein. Preferred patients include human patients having disorders that can be corrected or ameliorated by administering the agents and compositions described herein. This includes disorders involving cells characterized by dysregulated CLDN18.2 expression.

For example, in one embodiment, the agents and compositions described herein can be used to treat a patient with a cancer disease, e.g., a cancer disease such as described herein characterized by the presence of cancer cells expressing CLDN18.2. In some aspects, a cancer disease is gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, hepatic cancer, head-neck cancer, cancer of the gallbladder, or metastases thereof.

In an embodiment of the provided treatment method, the subject in need of therapy is also administered a therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of an antineoplastic agent, a chemotherapeutic agent, a growth inhibitory agent, a cytotoxic agent, and an immune checkpoint inhibitor.

In an embodiment of the provided treatment methods, an antibody, antibody fragment, or bispecific antibody comprising an anti-CLDN18.2 binding agent of the present invention is co-administered with a chemotherapeutic agent, which may be a cytotoxic agent. For example, epitubicin, oxaliplatin, and/or 5-FU can be administered to patients receiving anti-Claudin 18.2 therapy.

The combination of therapeutic agents discussed herein can be administered concurrently as components of a bispecific or multispecific binding agent or fusion protein or as a single composition in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Alternatively, a combination of therapeutics can be administered concurrently as separate compositions with each agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, the combination of therapeutic agents can be administered sequentially.

In one embodiment, the treatment method of the invention further comprises administering an agent capable of stabilizing or increasing expression of Claudin 18.2 at the cell surface of a cancer cell. For example, an agent stabilizing or increasing expression of Claudin 18.2 may be oxaliplatin and/or 5-FU.

In some aspects, conventional viral and non-viral based gene transfer methods can be used to introduce nucleic acids encoding the antibodies or derivatives thereof, as described herein, in mammalian cells or target tissues. Such methods can be used to administer nucleic acids encoding the antibodies to cells in vitro. In some embodiments, the nucleic acids encoding the antibodies or derivatives thereof are administered for in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy uses. In other embodiments, gene delivery techniques are used to study the activity of the antibodies in cell-based or animal models. Non-viral vector delivery systems include DNA plasmids, naked nucleic acid, and nucleic acid complexed with a delivery vehicle such as a liposome. Viral vector delivery systems include DNA and RNA viruses, which have either episomal or integrated genomes after delivery to the cell. Such methods are well known in the art.

Methods of non-viral delivery of nucleic acids encoding engineered polypeptides of the disclosure include lipofection, microinjection, biolistics, virosomes, liposomes, immunoliposomes, polycation or lipid: nucleic acid conjugates, naked DNA, artificial virions, and agent-enhanced uptake of DNA. Lipofection methods and lipofection reagents are well known in the art (e.g., Transfectam™ and Lipofectin™). Cationic and neutral lipids that are suitable for efficient receptor-recognition lipofection of polynucleotides include those of Felgner, WO 91/17424, WO 91/16024. Delivery can be to cells (ex vivo administration) or target tissues (in vivo administration). The preparation of lipid: nucleic acid complexes, including targeted liposomes such as immunolipid complexes, is well known to one of skill in the art.

The use of RNA or DNA viral based systems for the delivery of nucleic acids encoding the antibodies described herein take advantage of highly evolved processes for targeting a virus to specific cells in the body and trafficking the viral payload to the nucleus. Viral vectors can be administered directly to patients (in vivo) or they can be used to treat cells in vitro and the modified cells are administered to patients (ex vivo). Conventional viral based systems for the delivery of polypeptides of the disclosure could include retroviral, lentivirus, adenoviral, adeno-associated and herpes simplex virus vectors for gene transfer. Viral vectors are currently the most efficient and versatile method of gene transfer in target cells and tissues. Integration in the host genome is possible with the retrovirus, lentivirus, and adeno-associated virus gene transfer methods, often resulting in long term expression of the inserted transgene. Additionally, high transduction efficiencies have been observed in many different cell types and target tissues.

All patents and publications identified are expressly incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the methodologies described in such publications that might be used in connection with the disclosure. These publications are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing in this regard should be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention or for any other reason. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents are based on the information available to the applicants and do not constitute any admission as to the correctness of the dates or contents of these documents.

To the extent not already indicated, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that any one of the various embodiments herein described and illustrated may be further modified to incorporate features shown in any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.

The broad scope of this disclosure is best understood with reference to the following examples, which are not intended to limit the disclosures to the specific embodiments. The specific embodiments described herein are offered by way of example only, and the disclosure is to be limited by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of the equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

EXAMPLES General Methods

Methods for protein purification including immunoprecipitation, chromatography, and electrophoresis are described. Coligan et al. (2000) Current Protocols in Protein Science, Vol. 1, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. Chemical analysis, chemical modification, post-translational modification, production of fusion proteins, and glycosylation of proteins are described. See, e.g., Coligan et al. (2000) Current Protocols in Protein Science, Vol. 2, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York; Ausubel et al. (2001) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 3, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY, N.Y., pp. 16.0.5-16.22.17; Sigma-Aldrich, Co. (2001) Products for Life Science Research, St. Louis, Mo.; pp. 45-89; Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (2001) BioDirectory, Piscataway, N.J., pp. 384-391. Production, purification, and fragmentation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are described. Coligan et al. (2001) Current Protocols in Immunology, Vol. 1, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York; Harlow and Lane (1999) Using Antibodies, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Harlow and Lane, supra.

Hybridoma supernatant was purified via HiTrap protein G column (GE, cat. No. 17040401) according to the manufacturer's procedures. Briefly, hybridoma supernatant was equilibrated with DPBS (Gibco, cat. No. 14190-136) for 5 CV and loaded via syringe/infusion pump (Legato 200, KDS) at ambient temperature and 3 minute residence time. The column was washed with 5 CV of DPBS and elution was performed with 4 CV of pH 2.8 elution buffer (Fisher Scientific, cat. No. PI21004). Elution was fractionated, and fractions were neutralized with 1M Tris-HCL, pH 8.5 (Fisher Scientific, cat No. 50-843-270) and assayed by A280 (DropSense96, Trinean). Peak fractions were pooled, and buffer exchanged into DPBS. Centrifugal filters (EMD Millipore, cat. No. UFC803024) were equilibrated in DPBS at 4,000×g for 2 mins. Purified sample was loaded, DPBS was added and the sample was spun at 4,000×g for 5-10 minute spins until total DPBS volume reached ≥6 DV. The final pool was analyzed by A280.

Standard methods in molecular biology are described. Maniatis et al. (1982) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Sambrook and Russell (2001) Molecular Cloning, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; Wu (1993) Recombinant DNA, Vol. 217, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. Standard methods also appear in Ausbel et al. (2001) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vols. 1-4, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York, N.Y., which describes cloning in bacterial cells and DNA mutagenesis (Vol. 1), cloning in mammalian cells and yeast (Vol. 2), glycoconjugates and protein expression (Vol. 3), and bioinformatics (Vol. 4).

Stable cell lines expressing CLDN18.2 or CLDN18.1 were generated by transfecting a selected host cell (i.e., CHO-K1, NIH/3T3 or HEK293 cells, all purchased from ATCC) with pcDNA3.1-based plasmids expressing Homo sapiens claudin18, transcript variant 2 (CLDN18.2) or Homo sapiens claudin18, transcript variant 1 (CLDN18.1) using lipid-based transfection using Lipofectamine 3000 (Invitrogen, cat #L3000015).

Expression was confirmed using appropriate antibodies 24 h and 48 h after transfection using flow cytometry to assay for surface expression. Antibiotic selection was used to select the integrated cell, after 7-10 days of geneticin selection limiting dilution was performed on the surviving cells in 96-well plate while keeping the transfectants under selection pressure (Geneticin).

After 10-14 days, single colonies were picked up for screening using flow cytometry with CLDN18.2 or CLDN18.1-specific antibodies (CLDN18.2 in-house version of a positive control antibody synthesized using publicly available sequence information for a monoclonal antibody reported in US 2018/0117174 as being specific for CLDN18.2 (and not specific for CLDN18.1) (referred to herein as a “positive control” antibody); CLDN18.1 Claudin 18 polyclonal antibody (Invitrogen, cat #38-8000)). The top 3-5 highly expressed clones were chosen for further development. After a couple of passages, the expression level was confirmed by flow cytometry and image assay to make sure it is stable. Specific gene expression was also confirmed by PCR.

The sequences for the heavy and light chain variable regions for hybridoma clones were determined as described below. Total RNA was extracted from 1-2×10⁶ hybridoma cells using the RNeasy Plus Mini Kit from Qiagen (Germantown, Md., USA). cDNA was generated by performing 5′ RACE reactions using the SMARTer RACE 5′/3′ Kit from Takara (Mountainview, Calif., USA). PCR was performed using the Q5 High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase from NEB (Ipswitch, Mass., USA) to amplify the variable regions from the heavy and light chains using the Takara Universal Primer Mix in combination with gene-specific primers for the 3′ mouse constant region of the appropriate immunoglobulin. The amplified variable regions for the heavy and light chains were run on 2% agarose gels, the appropriate bands excised and then gel purified using the Mini Elute Gel Extraction Kit from Qiagen. The purified PCR products were cloned using the Zero Blunt PCR Cloning Kit from Invitrogen (Carlsbad, Calif., USA), transformed into Stellar Competent E. coli cells from Takara and plated onto LB Agar+50 ug/ml kanamycin plates. Direct colony Sanger sequencing was performed by GeneWiz (South Plainfield, N.J., USA). The resulting nucleotide sequences were analyzed using IMGT V-QUEST to identify productive rearrangements and analyze translated protein sequences. CDR determination was based on IMGT numbering.

Methods for flow cytometry, including fluorescence-activated cell sorting detection systems (FACS®), are available. See, e.g., Owens et al. (1994) Flow Cytometry Principles for Clinical Laboratory Practice, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, N.J.; Givan (2001) Flow Cytometry, 2nd ed.; Wiley-Liss, Hoboken, N.J.; Shapiro (2003) Practical Flow Cytometry, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, N.J. Fluorescent reagents suitable for modifying nucleic acids, including nucleic acid primers and probes, polypeptides, and antibodies, for use, e.g., as diagnostic reagents, are available. Molecular Probes (2003) Catalogue, Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, Oreg.; Sigma-Aldrich (2003) Catalogue, St. Louis, Mo.

The in-house positive control CLDN18.2-specific antibody zolbetuximab (formerly designated claudiximab) referred to herein as “PC1”, was made by a CRO based on the public information for their VH and VL sequences (VH sequence: SEQ ID NO: 32 of US 2018/0117174; VL sequence: SEQ ID NO: 39 of US 2018/0117174). The PC1 antibody was used to confirm CLDN18.2 expression by the transfectant and tumor cell lines used in the examples and to establish the binding and functional assays used to evaluate and characterize the anti-CLDN18.2-specific antibodies disclosed herein.

Briefly, plasmids containing the control and benchmark antibody sequences were transfected using the ExpiCHO™ Expression System (Catalog Number: A29133, ThermoFisher Scientific, USA) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The cells were cultured at 37° C. and 8% CO₂ on day 1 and then at 32° C. and 5% CO₂ post-transfection in media provided in the kit. Antibodies were purified by clarifying the ExpiCHO™ culture medium by centrifugation at 1,000 g for 10 min followed by 5,000 g for 30 min. The supernatant was then filtered using a 0.45μηι filter followed by a 0.22μηι filter. Subsequently, the supernatant was subjected to affinity purification using protein A/G resins (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.; Catalog #20424) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Prior to ELISA purification, antibody titer in the culture medium was roughly determined to ensure the amount of medium loaded occupied less than 80% of the resin binding capacity. After incubation, the resins were washed with PBS and eluted with Elution Buffer (Life Technologies, Catalog #21004). The elution fractions were immediately adjusted to physiologic pH by adding Tris Buffer, pH 8.0. The purified antibodies were subsequently subjected to buffer exchange and protein concentration using Amicon Ultra-15 Centrifugal Filter Unit (Life Technologies, Catalog #UFC900324) in PBS buffer. Antibody concentration was determined by BCA Protein Assay. SDS-PAGE and Coomassie-staining were carried out to test the antibody purity. The purified protein was aliquoted and stored at −80° C. for long-time storage or kept at 4° C. for immediate use.

The integrity of the antibody was validated by SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie staining under non-reducing vs reducing conditions; under non-reducing conditions, one dominating band around 150 kDa, whereas under reducing conditions, two bands were observed, 50 kDa and 25 kDa.

Standard techniques for characterizing ligand/receptor interactions are available. See, e.g., Coligan et al. (2001) Current Protocols in Immunology, Vol. 4, John Wiley, Inc., New York. Standard methods of antibody functional characterization appropriate for the characterization of antibodies with particular mechanisms of action are also well known to those of skill in the art.

Software packages and databases for determining, e.g., antigenic fragments, leader sequences, protein folding, functional domains, CDR annotation, glycosylation sites, and sequence alignments, are available.

Example 1: Generation of Anti-CLDN18.2 Antibodies

Mouse anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies were generated by immunizing Balb/c mice with HEK293 cells transfected with the human Claudin 18.2 gene.

Human anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies were generated by immunizing human Ig transgenic mice, Trianni mouse strain (WO2013/063391) with HEK293 cells transfected with human Claudin 18.2 gene.

Mice (Balb/c or human Ig transgenic) were immunized with either intraperitoneally (IP) or subcutaneously (SC). The immune response was monitored by retroorbital bleeds. The plasma was screened by FACS or Imaging (as described below), and mice with sufficient titers of anti-claudin 18.2 were used for fusions. Mice were boosted intraperitoneally or intravenously with the immunogens before sacrifice and removal of the spleen and lymph nodes.

To select Balb/c or human Ig transgenic mice producing antibodies that bound Claudin 18.2, sera from immunized mice were screened by flow cytometry (FACS) for binding to a cell line expressing claudin 18.2 (CHO, HEK293 or 3T3-claudin 18.2 cell lines) and not to control cell line that does not express claudin 18.2. Briefly, claudin 18.2-CHO (HEK or 3T3 cells) were incubated with dilutions of serum from immunized mice. Cells were washed, and specific antibody binding was detected with PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG Ab. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on a flow cytometry instrument (Intellicyte, IQue plus, Sartorius). In addition, mice serum was tested by Imaging. Briefly, claudin 18.2-Cho (HEK or 3T3 cells) were incubated with dilutions of serum from immunized mice. Cells were washed, fixed with paraformaldehyde, washed, specified antibody binding was detected with secondary Alexa488 goat anti-mouse antibody and Hoechst (Invitrogen, Calsbad, Calif.). Plates were scanned and analyzed on an imaging machine (Cytation 5, Biotek, Winooski, Vt.). Hybridoma supernatants were tested for anti-claudin 18.2 specific binding by FACS and Imaging as described above.

To generate hybridomas producing human and mouse antibodies of the invention, splenocytes and lymph node cells were isolated from an immunized mouse and fused to an appropriate immortalized cell line, such as a mouse myeloma cell line. The resulting hybridomas were screened for the production of antigen-specific antibodies. For example, single-cell suspensions of splenocytes, lymph node cells from immunized mice were fused to the equal number of Sp2/0 non-secreting mouse IgG myeloma cells (ATCC, CRL 1581) by electrofusion. Cells were plated in flat-bottom 96-well tissue culture plates, followed by 2 weeks of incubation in the selection medium (HAT medium), then switched to hybridoma culture media. Approximately 10-14 days after cell plating, supernatants from individual wells were screened by FACS or Imaging as described above. The antibody-secreting hybridomas were transferred to 24-well plates, screened again, and if still positive for anti-claudin 18.2, the positive hybridomas were subcloned by limiting dilution or sorting using a single cell sorter. The stable subclones were then cultured in vitro to generate small amounts of antibodies to be used for purification and for characterization.

Example 2: Specificity of Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibodies

The binding specificity of the anti-claudin antibodies was evaluated using an immunofluorescence imaging assay.

The specific cellular binding affinity of anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies was tested on CHO-CLDN18.2 (transfected CHO cell expressing recombinant human CLDN18.2) and CHO-CLDN18.1 (transfected CHO cell expressing recombinant human CLDN18.1) cells. The cells were plated in complete media containing F12 with 10% FBS, then incubated overnight at 37° C., anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies were serial diluted and added to the assay plates, incubated at 4° C. for 2 hours, followed by fixing cells and further staining the cells for 30 minutes with Alexa Fluor® 488 Goat Anti-Human IgG (H+L) secondary antibody, invitrogen Cat #A-11013 for detection. The binding was assessed by imaging the cells and quantifying the fluorescence intensity using a Biotek Cytation.

As demonstrated in FIG. 3A, the group of purified murine anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies binds to the CHO-CLDN18.2 cells, but not the CHO-CLDN18.1 cells when using 10 μg/ml of antibodies in the study, FIG. 3B shows the representative data of dose-dependent binding of Ms-1, Ms-2 and Ms-3 to CHO-CLDN18.2 cells with EC50 values of 1.2 nM, 2.8 nM, and 1.8 nM respectively. The control Ab PC1 has an EC50 value of 3.2 nM, consistent with literature reports. The negative control antibody doesn't bind to the CHO-CLDN18.2 cells.

The binding affinity of lead panel antibodies was also tested in a CHO CLDN18.1 cell line stably expressing Claudin18.1. None of the antibodies showed active binding activity at the highest testing concentration of 133.4 nM. Data from representative clones are shown in FIG. 3C. Both clones Ms-4 and Hu-3 exhibited dose-dependent binding to CHO-CLDN18.2 cells with EC50 values of 0.75 nM and 1.34 nM, while not binding to CHO-CLDN18.1 cell.

The complete set of dose-dependent binding data of the murine anti-Claudin18.2 lead panel is summarized in Table 5. The group of purified murine anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies binds to the CHO-CLDN18.2 cells with EC50 values ranging from 0.8-3.3 nM.

TABLE 5 Specificity of Murine anti-CLDN18.2 Antibodies CHO-18.2 binding, PATU8988S mAb EC50 nM binding Ms1 1.2 +++ Ms2 3.0 ++ Ms3 1.8 +++ Ms4 0.8 ++++ Ms5 1.7 +++ Ms6 1.2 +++ Ms7 1.4 +++ Ms8 1.5 +++ Ms9 1.5 +++ Ms10 1.3 +++ Ms11 3.3 ++ Ms12 2.0 +++ Ms13 1.2 +++ Ms14 1.1 ++ Ms15 1.8 +++ Ms16 0.8 ++++ Ms17 1.4 +++ Ms18 1.3 +++ Ms19 2.3 +++ Ms20 1.3 +++ Ms21 1.5 +++ Ms22 2.6 +++

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4A, representative purified human anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies bind to the CHO-CLDN18.2 cells, but not the CHO-CLDN18.1 cells when using 10 μg/ml of antibodies in the study.

The complete set of dose-dependent binding data of the human anti-Claudin18.2 lead panel is summarized in Table 6. The group of 17 purified Claudin 18.2 antibodies binds to the CHO CLDN18.2 with EC50 values ranging from 0.77 nM to 19 nM. Representative clone data is demonstrated in FIG. 4B. Clones Hu-2, Hu-9, and Hu-10 exhibited binding EC50 of 1.5, 1.1 and 1.5 nM.

TABLE 6 Specificity of Human anti-CLDN18.2 Antibodies CHO-18.2 PATU8988S mAb binding, EC50 nM binding Hu-1 3.6 ++ Hu-2 1.5 +++ Hu-3 1.3 +++ Hu-4 5.2 ++ Hu-5 4.5 + Hu-6 1.5 +++ Hu-7 1.0 ++++ Hu-8 3.7 ++ Hu-9 1.1 ++++ Hu-10 1.5 ++++ Hu-11 17 ++ Hu-12 1.2 ++++ Hu-13 5.6 ++ Hu-14 19 + Hu-16 12 + Hu-17 6.2 + Hu-18 0.8 +

Example 3: Binding Affinity of Claudin18.2 Antibodies to Tumor Cell Lines Expressing Claudin18.2

Target protein density and glycosylation status vary from cell type to cell type. The binding affinity and activity of affinity dependent mechanisms, such as ADCC and CDC, are significantly impacted by the target density and glycosylation status. Effects determined using cell lines that endogenously express Claudin18.2 have more translational relevance to the efficacy of anti-Claudin18.2 antibodies.

Tumor cells were plated in complete media containing RPMI1640 with +10% FBS, then incubated overnight at 37° C., Claudin18.2 antibodies were serial diluted and added to the assay plates, incubated at 4° C. for 2 hours, followed by fixing cells and further staining the cells for 30 minutes with Alexa Fluor® 488 Goat Anti-Human IgG (H+L) secondary antibody (invitrogen Cat #A-11013) for detection. The binding was assessed by imaging the cells and quantifying the fluorescence intensity using a Biotek Cytation.

The relative expression level of different types of cells is provided in FIG. 5 . Evaluation of the Claudin18.2 expression level in recombinant CHO-Claudin18.2 cells engineered to overexpress Claudin18.2 side by side with the gastric tumor cell line NUGC-4 and the pancreatic tumor cell line PATU8988S reveals that the CHO-Claudin18.2 expression level is more than 100-fold higher than the endogenous expression level of NUGC-4 and PATU8988S cells.

The disclosed anti-CLDN18.2 antibodies demonstrate binding to the pancreatic tumor cell line PATU8988S (see Tables 5 and 6, above) with EC50 values ranging from less than 2 nM to about 100 nM. The strength of the binding are reported in Table 5 and Table 6 in four categories, the strongest binding with EC50 values less than 2 nM are defined as “++++”, binding EC50 values between 2 nM and 20 nM are defined as “+++”, binding EC50 values between 20 nM and 100 nM are marked as “++”, and weak binding EC50 about 100 nM were indicated as “+”.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the binding of anti-claudin18.2 antibody panels exhibited better binding affinities to PATU8988S cells than the in-house positive control PC1. When 20 μg/ml antibodies were used to stain the cells, the binding fluorescence intensity of PC1 is significantly lower than the fluorescence intensity of Ms1-10 and Hu1-16 antibodies.

Similarly, the binding affinity of the antibodies Hu-2, Hu-9 and Hu-10 in the human antibody panel exhibited better binding affinities to the human gastric tumor cell line NUGC-4, shown by representative data in FIG. 7 .

To further evaluate anti-claudin18.2 Ab binding affinity to tumor cells, another human gastric tumor cell line, KATOIII that endogenously expresses claudin18.2 was used in a flow cytometry binding assay (FIG. 8 ). Briefly, KatoIII cells were plated in complete media containing RPMI1640 with +10% FBS, Claudin18.2 antibodies were serial diluted and added to the assay plates, incubated at 4° C. for 2 hours, followed by fixing cells and further staining the cells for 30 minutes with Alexa Fluor® 488 Goat Anti-Human IgG (H+L) secondary antibody (Invitrogen Cat #A-11013) for detection.

Antibody binding was assessed by flow cytometry instrument IQUE plus (Sartorius, Gottingen, Germany). As shown in FIG. 8 , when 6.67 μg/ml antibodies were used to stain the cells, the binding fluorescence intensity of the PC1 antibody in-house iMAb362 is significantly lower than the fluorescence intensity of Hu-2, Hu-9, and Hu-10 antibodies.

Example 4: Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of Claudin18.2 antibodies bound to Claudin18.2 positive cells was measured by a bioluminescence assay to determine the activity of the antibodies that specifically bind and activate mouse FcγRIV. Cells stably expressing CLDN18.2, either recombinant protein expressed by transfected CHO cells or a human cell line expressing endogenous CLDN18.2, or negative cells were plated in complete media containing F12+10% FBS, the cells were incubated overnight at 37° C. Claudin18.2 antibodies were then serial diluted and added together with effector cells. Cell viability was detected using a Promega bioluminescence assay following the manufacturer's instruction (Promega, cat #M1201).

As shown in Table 7, representative human Claudin 18.2 antibodies, which have human variable regions with mouse IgG2a Fc, induced ADCC with EC50 values ranging from 0.77 nM to 7.09 nM. Representative data is demonstrated in FIG. 9 . Antibodies Hu-2, Hu-7, and Hu-9 exhibited ADCC EC50 of 3.51, 3.52, and 1.10 nM. An unrelated Mouse IgG2a antibody that is not specific for CLDN18.2 shows no activity in the assay. The PC1 antibody engineered to comprise a human IgG1 Fc, had an EC50 of 0.66 nM in a similar assay when adding human effector cells (Data not shown).

TABLE 7 Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) Activity CHO-18.2 mAb EC50 nM Hu-1 0.77 Hu-2 3.51 Hu-3 3.11 Hu-4 2.39 Hu-5 7.09 Hu-6 4.80 Hu-7 3.52 Hu-8 1.42 Hu-9 1.10 Hu-10 1.25 Hu-11 1.51 Hu-12 2.26 Hu-13 1.17 Hu-14 1.51 Hu-16 3.09

Example 5: Endocytosis Screening

Endocytosis of the disclosed CLDN18.2-specific antibodies bound to Claudin18.2 positive cells was measured by a cytotoxicity based endocytosis assay that used the co-internalization of the target bound antibody together with an anti-Human IgG Fc-MMAF Antibody.

Cells stably expressing Claudin 18.2 or negative cells were plated in complete media containing F12+10% FBS, the cells were incubated overnight at 37° C. Claudin18.2 antibodies were then serial diluted and added together with anti-Human IgG Fc-MMAF antibody to the assay plates and incubated at 37° C. for 72 hours. Cell viability was detected using a Promega Cell-titer Glo bioluminescence assay (Promega, cat #7570) following the manufacturer's instruction.

As demonstrated in Table 8, the lead panel of purified murine Claudin 18.2 antibodies induced endocytosis derived cell toxicity in CHO CLDN18.2 cells with EC50 values ranging from 0.71-2.55 nM.

Similarly, as shown in Table 9, the Trianni panel of purified human Claudin 18.2 antibodies induced endocytosis derived cell toxicity in CHO CLDN18.2 with EC50 values ranging from 0.85 nM to 13.39 nM. Representative clone data is demonstrated in FIG. 10 . Clones Hu-2, Hu-7, Hu-9, and Hu-11 exhibited endocytosis derived cytotoxicity EC50 of 1.43, 1.65, 0.85 and 1.31 nM, respectively.

The lead panel antibodies also exhibited endocytosis derived cell cytotoxicity in a pancreatic tumor cell line PATU8988S which endogenously expresses Claudin18.2, but did not exhibit endocytosis derived cell killing activity in a CHO CLDN18.1 cell line stably expressing Claudin18.1 (data not shown).

TABLE 8 Endocytosis of Murine anti-Claudin18.2 mAbs Clone CHO-18.2 name EC50 nM Ms1 1.09 Ms2 2.55 Ms3 1.14 Ms4 0.98 Ms5 1.43 Ms6 1.26 Ms7 1.12 Ms8 1.08 Ms9 1.10 Ms10 0.96 Ms11 1.30 Ms12 1.07 Ms13 0.71 Ms14 1.02 Ms15 1.15 Ms16 1.00 Ms17 0.81 Ms18 1.39 Ms19 1.36 Ms20 1.07 Ms21 0.95 Ms22 1.61

TABLE 9 Endocytosis of Human anti-Claudin18.2 mAbs Clone CHO-18.2 name EC50 nM Hu-1 1.61 Hu-2 1.43 Hu-3 1.23 Hu-4 1.55 Hu-5 13.39 Hu-6 1.69 Hu-7 1.65 Hu-8 1.00 Hu-9 0.85 Hu-10 0.85 Hu-11 1.31 Hu-12 2.01 Hu-13 2.16 Hu-14 1.51 Hu-16 3.09

Example 6: Enhanced Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

The ADCC activity of Claudin18.2 antibodies bound to Claudin18.2 positive cells was measured by a bioluminescence assay to determine the activity of the antibodies that specifically bind and activate human FcγRIIIa. CHO cells stably expressing CLDN18.2, or negative cells, were plated in complete media containing F12+10% FBS, the cells were incubated overnight at 37° C. Claudin18.2 antibodies were then serial diluted and added together with effector cells. Cell viability was detected using a Promega bioluminescence assay following the manufacturer's instruction (Promega, cat #7010).

As shown in FIG. 13A, the unmodified anti-Claudin18.2 antibody NBL-014 and the Fc modified antibodies NBL-014P, comprising point mutations introduced to enhance ADCC activity, and NBL-014G, an Fc-modified variant produced in HEK cells under conditions selected to express an antibody characterized by low, or no IgG core fucose (e.g., non- or afucosylated), induced enhanced ADCC activity in CHO-claudin 18.2 cells and PATU8988S cells.

In high target density CHO-claudin18.2 cells, NBL-014P and NBL-014G exhibited EC50 values of 0.06 nM to 0.02 nM, 10-fold and 35-fold better than the unmodified parental NBL-014 antibody, which has an ADCC EC50 of 0.73 nM (FIG. 13A).

An alternative ADCC assay was also used to evaluate the anti-claudin18.2 antibody's ADCC activity by directly measuring the % target cell lysis using effector cell line NK92MI-CD16a. Briefly, CHO-Claudin18.2 target cells were stained with CFSE per manufacture's instruction, the cells were then seeded into a U-bottom 384 well plate, at 800 k/mL in RPMI medium (no antibiotics). Serial diluted Ab and isotype control were added into the plate. NK92MI cells were harvested and counted, and diluted to indicated concentration, 320 k/mL, then 10 ul/well was added to have a final 1:5 ratio of NK92MI vs. tumor cells, incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂ for 4 hours at 37° C. 5% CO₂, then taken out at room temp for 10 min. Dead cell dye 7-AAD (1:100) was added and mixed in the well, allowed to sit for 10 min, and the plate was then run on the FACS to determine the cell death/killing ability (gate on CFSE positive to define dead cell 7-AAD+).

As shown in FIG. 13B, the Fc modified antibodies NBL-014P and NBL-014G induced modestly enhanced ADCC activity in this assay format.

Example 7: Enhanced ADCC Activity in Tumor Cells Endogenously Expressing Claudin18.2

Compared to CHO-claudin18.2 cells overexpressing Claudin18.2, the human tumor cell lines PATU8988S and NUGC-4 endogenously express much less Claudin18.2 (FIG. 5 ). The anti-Claudin 18.2 antibodies were tested for their ADCC activity using the human tumor cell lines as target cells. The ADCC activity of Claudin18.2 antibodies was measured by a bioluminescence assay to determine the activity of the antibodies that specifically bind and activate human FcγRIIIa. Human cell lines expressing endogenous CLDN18.2 were plated in complete media containing RPMI1640+10% FBS, the cells were incubated overnight at 37° C.

Claudin18.2 antibodies were then serial diluted and added together with effector cells. Cell viability was detected using a Promega bioluminescence assay following the manufacturer's instruction (Promega, cat #7010). In the PATU8988S cell line ADCC assay, NBL-014P and NBL-014G showed ADCC EC50 values of 0.06 nM, and 0.04 nM respectively, which are enhanced relative to the ADCC activity of parental clone NBL-014 (EC50 of 0.12 nM, see FIG. 13A). Moreover, in this pancreatic cell model, the maximum of the ADCC effect upshifted ˜33 fold over the parental antibody NBL-014's maximum ADCC response (FIG. 14B).

In NUGC-4 cell line, NBL-014P and NBL-014G showed ADCC EC50 of 0.04 nM, and 0.06 nM respectively, also enhanced from the parental clone NBL-014, which has an ADCC EC50 of 0.40 nM. Moreover, in this gastric cell assay the maximum of the ADCC effect upshifted ˜3 fold over the parental antibody NBL-014's maximum ADCC response (FIG. 14A).

Example 8: Complement-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (CDC) of Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibodies

The capability of anti-claudin18.2 antibodies to induce CDC activity was first evaluated using the CHO cell line overexpressing claudin18.2. This flow cytometer-based CDC assay was done using pooled human serum from PeproTech (Rockyhill, N.J.). CHO-Claudin18.2 cells were seeded in a 384-well plate at 8,000 cells per well. 10 ul of selected antibodies were added, at a serial dilution starting with a concentration of 10 μg/ml. The plate was left to incubate for 15 minutes at 37° C. After the incubation, 10 ul of human serum was added to wells, with the final dilution at 1/16th per volume. The plate was then left to incubate for 2.5 hours at 37° C. 7AAD viability dye was added 10 minutes prior to iQue plus (flow cytometer) acquisition.

In high target density CHO-claudin18.2 cells, NBL-014P and NBL-014G exhibited potent EC50 values of 0.15 nM to 0.30 nM, similar to its un-engineered form NBL-014, which has a CDC EC50 of 0.22 nM (FIG. 15 ). Relative to the CDC activity of PC1 (in-house iMAb36) (EC50 value of 1.76), the observed EC50 activity of NBL-014 represents approximately a ˜10 fold improvement.

The CDC activity of anti-claudin18.2 antibodies was further evaluated in the human tumor cell lines PATU8988S endogenously expressing claudin18.2. As Shown in FIG. 16 , NBL-014, NBL-014P and NBL-014G all induced strong CDC activity in PATU8988S, with NBL-014P having the highest CDC % killing.

Example 9: Antibody-Dependent Cellular Phagocytosis (ADCP) of Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibodies

The ability of anti-claudin18.2 antibodies to induce ADCP was assessed using a Promega bioluminescence assay. The assay uses CHO cells overexpressing claudin18.2 or NUGC cells as target cells. The effector cells were co-cultured with target cells in the presence of anti-claudin18.2 antibodies. The antibody binds to the target on target cells which in turn activate FcγRIIa on effector cells, resulting in NFAT-RE-mediated luciferase activity, that can be quantified using a Bio-Glo Luciferase Assay system.

Briefly, CHO-claudin18.2 or NUGC-4 cells were plated in assay buffer in white 384-well plates, 12000/20 ul/well (0.6 M/ml). The effector cells were thawed and resuspended to 1 M/ml and 10 ul was added to the assay plate (10000/well). Antibodies were diluted in assay buffer and added 10 μl/well on top of the target cell. The cell plate was incubated overnight. On the next day, 20 ul of luc substrate was directly added according to manufacturer's instruction, the plate was spun down and read immediately.

The ADCP activity of anti-claudin18.2 antibodies NBL-014, NBL-014G and NBL-014P were shown in FIG. 17A (CHO-claudin18.2 cells) and FIG. 17B (NUGC-4 cells). When using a high-density CLDN18.2 target cell, the activity from the Fc engineered Abs was similar to that of their parental antibodies, while the ADCP activity of the in-house PC1 antibody (iMAb362) exhibited a high response but less potent activity.

Use of the human tumor cell line NUGC-4 (endogenous expression of CLDN18.2) to evaluate ADCP activity results in data indicating that the in-house PC1 antibody is 100 times less potent, but that its maximum activity is higher than NBL-014, NBL-014P and NBL-014G.

Based on these results, it appears that the ADCP activity of NBL-014 is potent regardless of the Claudin18.2 expression level, and that neither of the Fc modifications (protein-engineering or glycol-engineering) changed the potency of the observed activity. The EC50 values of NBL-014G and NBL-014P are similar to their parent clone NBL-014. In both cell lines tested, the CHO-Claudin18.2 and NUGC-4, NBL-14, NBL-14G and NBL-14P demonstrated better ADCP activity in terms of EC50 values than PC1. However, the ADCP effect at high antibody concentration of 10 μg/ml of PC1 has two-fold higher response than NBL-014.

Example 10: Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibodies in a PATU8988S-Overexpressing Claudin18.2 Subcutaneous Tumor Model of Pancreatic Cancer

6-7 week old female BALB/c nude mice were injected with 5×10⁶ viable PATU8988S-overexpressing Claudin18.2 cells in 0.1 ml PBS subcutaneously into the right flank. Three days later, mice were randomly sorted into groups (N=10) and treatment by intraperitoneal injection was initiated (Day 0). Group 1 received PBS control; Group 2 received 200 ug of isotype antibody control, Group 3 received 200 ug of NBL-014, and Group 4 received 200 ug of PC1 antibody. Treatment was administered two times weekly for 4 weeks.

Body weights were measured twice weekly. Tumor volumes were determined at different time points using the formula V=½*L×W×W, where L is the long dimension and W is the short dimension of the xenograft. Any mice with tumors over 2500 mm³ were sacrificed.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the tested antibody NBL-014 and PC1 inhibited tumor size growth. On day 34 of the study, the mice were sacrificed and the tumors were taken out to measure the weight. Both NBL-014 and in-house PC1 antibody (iMAb362) showed potent anti-tumor efficacy using tumor weight as the indicator (FIG. 18B).

Example 11: Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibodies in a NUGC-4 Subcutaneous Model of Gastric Cancer

6-7 week old female BALB/c nude mice were injected with 5×10⁶ viable NUGC-4 cells in 0.1 ml PBS subcutaneously into the right flank. Three days later, mice were randomly sorted into groups (N=10) and treatment by intraperitoneal injection was initiated (Day 0). Group 1 received PBS control; Group 2 received 200 ug of NBL-014, and Group 3 received 200 ug of PC1 antibody The treatment was administered two times weekly for 5 weeks.

Body weights were measured twice weekly. Tumor volumes were determined at different time points using the formula V=½*L×W×W, where L is the long dimension and W is the short dimension of the xenograft. Any mice with tumors over 2500 mm³ were sacrificed.

As shown in FIG. 19 , the tested antibody NBL-014 inhibited tumor growth. On day 35 of the study, both NBL-014 and PC1 showed significant anti-tumor efficacy. NBL-014 exhibited better anti-tumor activity than in-house PC1 antibody (iMAb362).

Example 12: Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Fc Engineered Anti-Claudin18.2 Antibody in PBMC Humanized NUGC-4 Subcutaneous Model of Gastric Cancer

To investigate the therapeutic potential of an Fc engineered anti-Clandin18.2 antibody, NOG-MHC I/11-2 KO (NOD.Cg-B2m^(em1Tac) Prkdc^(scid) H2-Abl^(tm1Doi) Il2rg^(tm1Sig)/JicTac) mice from Jackson laboratory were chosen to use because of the extended treatment window without GVHD on-set.

Briefly, 6-7 week old female NOG dko mice were inoculated with 5×10⁶ viable NUGC-4 cells in 0.1 ml PBS subcutaneously into the right flank. Three days later, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were thawed and counted. 1×10⁷ PBMC diluted in 300 ul PBS was engrafted to each mouse through the tail vein. The mice were randomly sorted into groups, and treatment by intraperitoneal injection of antibodies was initiated (Day 0). Group 1 received PBS with PBMC; Group 2 received 200 ug of NBL-014, which has an engineered human IgG1 Fc.

The treatment was administered two times weekly for 5 weeks. The PBMC engraft was repeated 4 times once a week. The body weights of the mice were measured twice weekly. Tumor volumes were determined at different time points using the formula V=½*L×W×W, where L is the long dimension and W is the short dimension of the xenograft. Any mice with tumors over 2500 mm3 were sacrificed.

As Shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the group received NBL-014 showed significantly reduced tumor volume (FIG. 20A) and tumor weight (FIG. 20B) relative to the control group. 

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. An anti-CLDN18.2 antibody comprising (a) a heavy chain variable region comprising CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 269, CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 270, and CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 271; and (b) a light chain variable region comprising CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 272, CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 273, and CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 274. 12. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 201 and a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 202. 13. The antibody of claim 12, wherein the antibody is characterized by enhanced ADCC activity relative to the ADCC activity of an antibody comprising the same variable VH and VL regions in combination with a wild-type human IgG1 Fc domain.
 14. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody is of the IgG1 isotype and comprises L235V, F243L, R292P, Y300L, and P396L mutations.
 15. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody comprises a recombinant heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 336 and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 337. 16. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody comprises a recombinant heavy chain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 338 and a light chain sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 337. 17. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody does not bind to CLDN18.1.
 18. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, a recombinant antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody, a human antibody, a bispecific antibody, or a multi-specific antibody.
 19. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody is a human antibody.
 20. The antibody of claim 11, wherein the antibody is of the IgG class.
 21. The antibody of claim 20, wherein the antibody has an IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, or IgG4 isotype.
 22. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the antibody of claim
 11. 23. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 22. 24. A host cell comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 22. 25. A host cell comprising the vector molecule of claim
 23. 26. A method of making the antibody of claim 11 comprising culturing a host cell according to claim 25 under suitable conditions for producing the antibody.
 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising isolating the antibody secreted from the host cell.
 28. A method for treating cancer, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising the antibody of claim
 11. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the cancer is a solid tumor cancer associated with cells expressing CLDN18.2.
 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the cancer is gastric cancer, pancreatic and esophageal cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, or hepatic cancer. 